An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can help protect the financial security of those harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Claim Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. 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 hazardous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they didn't warn their employees and clients.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to have an impact on the community around it.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed at work. Secondhand exposure can also cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. A study shows 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 daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly within and outside the insurance company's policy.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they failed to remove asbestos from their products. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of 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 full and fair settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get 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 attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in 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 extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local 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 skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, 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 concerns.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's objectives. In addition it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos claim dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and lead discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate research and technology involved in these cases as well as unique legal issues that arise when defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential data about the claimants. This included medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case with 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 attorney Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.