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

An asbestos case defense lawyer can protect the financial security of those who have been injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local scale. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex aspects of science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at 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 complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma and 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 older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma following secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.

Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially true if they have been wrongly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

Defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only accountable for a small portion of the amount of the claim. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related diseases

Exposure to asbestos can cause a wide range of diseases. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos case-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after the 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 as well as children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove asbestos from their products. These people can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full settlement.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.

Many states have created asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have been bankrupt, the caseload of this special court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has created an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated cases. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is best to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and property owners on issues concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability issues.

Bowles Rice in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's objectives. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its client.

The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts and before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential information about the claimants. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use an account password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice asbestos attorney Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of 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 defending companies against appeals.