An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral

An asbestos claim defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been harmed by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos settlement cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous substance. 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 diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed to it at work. Secondhand exposure can also cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study has revealed 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, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs 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. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is outside of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Mesothelioma has caused the 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 disease, is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal 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 is found within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They knew it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove asbestos from their products. These people can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos settlement-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have created specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine the amount the plaintiff is entitled to.

The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation (Resource), representing clients nationwide in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role, lawyers develop strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client against an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to identify and address potential safety and liability issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with the client's goals. In addition it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with the complex scientific issues involved in these cases, as in addition to specific legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work histories and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could look over any SEAR forms from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.