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 whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and the complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm by your side.

New York has had a long history of asbestos lawsuit litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of asbestos attorney's dangers however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community around it.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact, and many workers were exposed at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially true if they have been wrongly named as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television 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 expired or that they are only responsible for only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos-related companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to obtain the highest amount of compensation for our clients.

Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally judges have created special procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through the court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are well-versed in the rules, regulations, and policies of the asbestos attorney courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing safety and liability issues.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's objectives. Additionally it plays an important role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with the complex science involved in these cases, as well as specific legal issues that arise when defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases before state and federal courts and before various appellate and supreme court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password to access the files and was able to go through the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.