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

An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are familiarized with the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos case lawsuits that seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they didn't inform their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not established a clear rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly within and outside the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. 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 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 of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos attorney from the workplace and their spouses, children, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was hazardous. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. These people now have the right to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. As a result, the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos settlement court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.

At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated issues. They are knowledgeable of 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 has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers devise strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client in a personal injury claim involving asbestos lawsuit (redirected here). The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing safety and liability issues.

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

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of 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, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential information about the claimants. This included medical reports as well as work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel had to have a password in order to access the files. She could then review any SEAR forms from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.