An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral

A lawyer for asbestos defense can help protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. As such, we are familiar with the particular issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and it is crucial to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to warn their employees and clients.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact, and many workers were exposed in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to rise further. This niche litigation is often fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that promote on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-related diseases

A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as spouses, children, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma lawsuits.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma lawyers because it occurs in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't remove it from their products. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their workers and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma lawyers, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition judges have created special procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of this special court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each case to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.

At present, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult cases. They are well-versed in the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to identify and address potential safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role, Bowles Rice develops litigation strategies and oversees regional and local counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the claimants, such as medical reports, a history of work, and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.