Clara Roberts asked 7 months ago
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 help protect those who’s financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. As a result, we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions like mesothelioma lawyers. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and it’s crucial 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 dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.
Many workers were exposed to Manteca Asbestos lawsuit in their work environments. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband’s work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma litigation can be expensive for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
Defendants may be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to divide liability when the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer’s policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different ailments. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness, is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don’t lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma type for women however it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn’t remove asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their employees and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. They are now paying for their inattention to. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such 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 who have gone bankrupt, the caseload of this court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system isn’t overloaded the New York Supreme Court has established an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. 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 in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. 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 the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners in cases involving claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs’ attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, which includes those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex science involved in these cases, as well as unique legal issues that arise while defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the federal and state courts as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to a password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.
