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

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

Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local level. As such, we are familiar with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. 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 this dangerous material. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos case manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but failed to warn their employees and consumers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-related illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a wide range of diseases. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases don't show up 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. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian mesothelioma. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people now have the right to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. This means that the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain 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 accountable large corporations accountable and seek 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 created specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos 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 that have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of the court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

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

Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in litigating these complex issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York, including their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

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

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related 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 go through any SEAR forms provided by 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 firm works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.