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

An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially true if they have been incorrectly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs within and outside the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related diseases

Exposure to asbestos can cause a wide range of diseases. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs. This is called asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos settlement in the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate asbestos attorney from their products. These people can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their employees and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals 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 attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for clients.

Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve asbestos-related cases.

New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos compensation defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each 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 to issue its final ruling by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated issues. They are knowledgeable of 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 has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos legal litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role, the firm develops litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client objectives. In addition, it plays a key role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients against mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.