An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been injured through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As a result, we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and it is crucial to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers 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 associated with the dangerous mineral, but they didn't warn their employees and consumers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed to it at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed 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. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on TV 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 arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the amount of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease, is caused by asbestos lawsuit fibers which collect in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
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 form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove it from their products. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have created special procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has grown steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.
Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated matters. They are well-versed in 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 also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients to develop 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 formulates strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's goals. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.