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

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

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local scale. As our lawyers are well-versed with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent times, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos attorney manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase further. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is of the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs 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 diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was dangerous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

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

Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

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

Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult cases. They are familiar with New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide 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 effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client in an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to identify and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this role, Bowles Rice develops strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's needs. In addition it plays an important role in the management of asbestos settlement dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including 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, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience arguing asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts as well as before various appellate and supreme court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) which contained confidential information about the claimants. The files contained medical reports, work histories, and a list asbestos case (look at here) products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel required an account password to access the files. She was then able to review any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.