An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can help protect the financial security of those who have been affected by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. We are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney (click through the up coming website) is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, so it’s important to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos can cause illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos’s dangers however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma following secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband’s clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able lower some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they are only accountable for a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurer’s policies.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs. This is called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, however they don’t cause cancer or mesothelioma.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don’t manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 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 of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it develops within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn’t eliminate it from their products. These people now are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the 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, producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. People who’s lives have been affected by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
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 large corporations responsible accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specific procedures to evaluate and resolve 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 been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system does not get overwhelmed the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to accept it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.
Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox’s lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated matters. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts in New York and their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and manage local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is the best way to defend the client in an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing any safety and liability issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice devises strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client’s needs. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs’ lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm’s lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. asbestos case defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos claim and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts, as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms from 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 recognized nationally 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, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.