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 harmed by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the particular issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as 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 toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but did not inform their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to have an impact on the community around it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed to it in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are incorrectly named as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small portion of the amount of the claim. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute the liability if the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurance policies.

asbestos attorney-related diseases

Exposure to asbestos can trigger various diseases. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses 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. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was hazardous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

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

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created special procedures to review and resolve these cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system isn't overwhelmed the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. They are well-versed in the rules regulations, policies, and procedures 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 complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is most effective to defend the client in a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and property owners on issues concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing potential risks to safety and liability.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's needs. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. asbestos legal (Find Out More) defense attorneys are familiar with complex science involved in these cases, as well as specific legal issues that arise when defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts, as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated), which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.