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 protect those who’s financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As a result, we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos case cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have a reputable mesothelioma law firm on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos’ 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. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to have an impact on the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in their work environments. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband’s clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be expensive for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants may be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they’re only responsible for a tiny percentage of the claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide liability when the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer’s policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can cause various illnesses. 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 pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, however they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically don’t manifest until decades after exposure. This is because it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma type for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it occurs in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn’t remove asbestos from their products. These people can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such 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 been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system is not overloaded the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine the amount a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex matters. They are familiar with the rules, regulations, and policies 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 in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation; look here,.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client against a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing risks to safety and liability.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client’s needs. Additionally, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm’s lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the state and federal courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos compensation cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential information about the 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 an account password to access the files. Then, she could 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 well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.