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 assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can cause numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney – a cool way to improve, is adept at 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 had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos’s dangers however, they failed to inform the employees and the public.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact, and many workers were exposed in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear their husband’s clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly identified as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial 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 only have to pay a small portion of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide the liability if the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurer’s policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos compensation-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, however they don’t cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don’t manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos case from their workplaces and their spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it’s 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 lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn’t eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. As a result, the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals receive the justice they need. 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 accountable large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally judges have created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through this court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system does not get overwhelmed, 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 each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.
Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox’s lawyers have vast experience in litigating these complex matters. 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 where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and address potential safety and liability issues.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with the client’s goals. Additionally it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm’s attorneys are experienced in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. asbestos case defense lawyers are acquainted with the complex scientific issues involved in these cases as well as specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos case and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.