An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can protect the financial security of those affected through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can trigger various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney (redirect to en.sulseam.com) is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and it is crucial to have a reputable mesothelioma law firm by your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos lawyer litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos’s dangers but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma can be caused by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband’s work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially relevant if they’ve been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. 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 significant settlements.
Defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs associated with these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they’re only responsible for a small percentage 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 occurs partly outside of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can lead to a wide range of ailments. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The symptoms of asbestos claim-related diseases typically don’t manifest until decades after exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, however it is less common than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was a risk. If they didn’t remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain 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 large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York, a state that has its own asbestos legal court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The number of cases filed in this court has grown steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
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 every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff’s compensation should be.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox’s lawyers have extensive experience in litigating these complex issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos lawyer litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to address potential safety and liability concerns.
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 Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client’s goals. In addition it plays a crucial role in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm’s lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with complex science involved in these cases as and particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases before state and federal courts, as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to review any SEAR forms from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.