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 injured by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent times there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to warn their employees and clients.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its old structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've 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 grow. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that promote on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.

Defendants may be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they're only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total amount of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to allocate responsibility when the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma type for women however, it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is typically diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.

A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. The affected people are now able to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their employees and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get 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 lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for our clients.

Many states have created special asbestos lawsuit courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition, judges have established special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.

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

The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing any safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos legal practice, 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 line with the client's goals. In addition it plays an important role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has defended numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could review 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 recognized nationally for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses against appeals.