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 who’s financial security was affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. We are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science 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 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 on your side.
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 claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a link between Asbestos Claim and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers associated with this hazardous mineral, but failed to inform their employees and customers.
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 place that continues to impact on the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in their work environments. Secondhand exposure can also cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos claim-exposure workers who were wearing their husband’s work clothes and came into contact with asbestos lawsuit dust on a regular basis.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they’ve been wrongly identified as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants might be able to lower some of the expenses arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total amount of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide the liability if the alleged exposure is part of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of 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 lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often are not evident until years after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as spouses, children, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it’s less common than the general mesothelioma. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn’t remove it from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and their customers for decades making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. They are now paying for their inattention to. People who’s lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt, the caseload of the court has been steadily increasing. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling at the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. They are familiar with the rules regulations, rules, 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 serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos attorney defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client in a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing potential risks to safety and liability.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm designs strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense that is in sync with client objectives. Additionally it plays a crucial role in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel and leads discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before state and federal courts as well as before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the asbestos settlement Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which 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 access to a password to access the files. She could then look over any SEAR forms provided by 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 development and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.