An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can help protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. We are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated, so it’s important to have a mesothelioma lawsuits attorney on your side.
New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a link between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn the employees and the public.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily 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 true if they have been wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This kind of litigation is usually supported by asbestos law firms, which advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants might 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 small percentage of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the insurance company’s policy.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Many people have died due to mesothelioma lawsuits. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
mesothelioma attorney is a rare but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs. This is called asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don’t show up until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. People at risk of developing mesothelioma lawyer and other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women however, it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma lawsuits because it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. If they didn’t remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and customers for a long time making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying the price for their inattention to. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys 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 obtain maximum compensation for clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also developed specific procedures to assess and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has increased steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine how much amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. They are familiar with 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 also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client against a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any risks to safety and liability.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity, Bowles Rice develops strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client’s goals. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs’ lawyers and coordinating 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 acquainted with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving a variety of claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate 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 Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential information about claimants. This included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel had to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses from appeals.