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 could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the dangerous mineral, but they failed to inform their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to affect the community around it.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to it at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible a small portion of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is outside of the insurance company's policy.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A variety of asbestos settlement-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, however it is less common than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have filed for bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their employees and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying the price for their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families receive the justice they need. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to accept it. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with 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 where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage 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 special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client against 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 illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to resolve potential liability and safety concerns.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and manages local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. asbestos case defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has defended numerous manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos 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 histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account password to access these files, and she could also review the SEAR forms of any case she had with 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 acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.