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

An asbestos defense lawyer can protect the financial security of those who have been affected through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are well-versed in the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the hazardous mineral, but did not inform their employees and customers.

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

Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos lawsuit-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. This kind of litigation is usually fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of huge 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 only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs in and out of the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness, is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, cleaned, and removed these materials from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve such cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of the court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated issues. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos case courts as well as their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, attorneys 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 have been involved in asbestos litigation (learn the facts here now).

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to determine and deal with potential liability and safety 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 designs strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense, in line with client objectives. In addition, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with the complex scientific issues involved in these cases, as and unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential information about the claimants. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with 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. The firm also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.