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

A defense attorney for asbestos can help protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.

New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware the dangers that asbestos lawsuit posed however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.

New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma can be caused by direct exposure to asbestos and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit (click) can be costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly 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 even more. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs within and outside the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a wide range of ailments. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths 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 caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it develops within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. These people can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. 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 attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its 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 with the litigation of these complex cases. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts, including their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

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 advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent 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 plaintiffs' counsel and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before state and federal courts and before various supreme and appellate courts.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, including medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.

In addition to its extensive 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 company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.