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 assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local level. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it’s important to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent times, 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. These companies were aware the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn the employees and the public.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband’s clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they’ve been wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to allocate the liability if the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer’s policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease, is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs. This is known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don’t cause mesothelioma attorney or cancer.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don’t show up until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it’s less frequent than the general mesothelioma attorneys. It is often diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and customers for a long time making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. They are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also developed special procedures to review and resolve these cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. The number of cases in this court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system isn’t overloaded the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff’s compensation should be.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex cases. They are well-versed in the rules, regulations, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for every client. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and property owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing any 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 capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client objectives. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs’ lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm’s lawyers have experience in defending clients against mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts, as well as before various appellate and supreme court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience as well as its vast trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.
