An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A defense attorney for asbestos can protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
asbestos lawsuit fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
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 claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its old structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband’s clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. Specialized asbestos attorney law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policies are in a lapse or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. 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), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don’t cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases don’t manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it’s less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is often diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos lawyer in the 20th century, however they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove it from their products. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies 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 companies have put profits before the safety of their employees and their customers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their inattention to. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specific procedures to assess and resolve these cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system isn’t overloaded the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff’s compensation should be.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox’s lawyers have vast experience in litigating these complex issues. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules regulations, policies and guidelines in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to identify and address potential safety and liability issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this role, the firm develops strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. In addition it plays a crucial role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm’s attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with complex scientific issues involved in these cases as in addition to unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms from 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 Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.
