An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can protect those who's financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated 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 hazardous substance. In recent years 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 knew of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but failed to warn their employees and clients.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. In addition, exposure to
asbestos attorney through secondhand sources can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This niche litigation is often supported by
asbestos Claim law firms, which advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can trigger a wide range of illnesses. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease 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.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma that women suffer from however, it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was hazardous. 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 are insolvent. This means that the victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades,
asbestos legal-related companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying for their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also developed specific procedures to assess and resolve these 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 that have been bankrupt, the caseload of this special court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee 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 each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently looking at 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 complex and involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated cases. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York as well as their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they were involved in
asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and owners of premises on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client goals. Additionally, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts, as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.
