An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An
asbestos legal (
linked resource site) defense lawyer can help protect the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local level. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and the complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent times there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community around it.
Mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore 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 especially relevant if they've been wrongly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. This kind of litigation is usually driven by
asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime television and encourage 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 their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to allocate liability when the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing however they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It could take up to 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 diseases include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of
asbestos-related exposure.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma type for women however, it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs in the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
There were many companies that employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was dangerous. When they failed to remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also developed special procedures to review and resolve such cases.
New York is one such state with 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 asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop 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 not. Judges will also assess the merits of every claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling at the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in defending these complicated matters. They are familiar with 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 capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client against a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors and owners of premises on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and address potential safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense that is in sync with the client's goals. Additionally it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, which includes those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. These included medical reports, work histories, and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have access to the files and was able to look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience 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 collaborates with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.
