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 injured through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

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

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm 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 are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers of the dangerous mineral, but they failed to warn their employees and consumers.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. This kind of litigation is usually driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants may be able mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they're only accountable for a small percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related diseases

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos legal fibers that accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling 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, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically are not evident until years after initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing products from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most deadly mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.

Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was dangerous. When they failed to remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive 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 large corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have been bankrupt the number of cases that have come through the court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before 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 in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, rules, 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 vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers devise strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they have been 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 personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and premises owners in cases involving claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any risks to safety and liability.

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 Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and manages regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's needs. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys 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 numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate courts.

During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the asbestos settlement Claim 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 an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. Then, she could go through any SEAR forms provided by 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 company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.