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 whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local level. This means that we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
asbestos settlement is a harmful fiber that can trigger a variety of severe 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 harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm by your side.
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 arise out of the realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be expensive for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named 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 even more. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate the liability if the alleged risk is of and outside the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different ailments. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other
asbestos lawyer-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could decrease lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not appear until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed, and removed these materials from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma that women suffer from however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. If they didn't remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their employees and their customers for decades making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
A number of states have set up asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York, a state which has 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 been bankrupt, the caseload of this special court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed 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 each case to determine how much the plaintiff is entitled to.
Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex cases. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's goals. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients from mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate research and technology involved in these cases, as in addition to unique legal issues that arise while defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has defended numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts, as well as before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as an inventory of
asbestos Claim-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files and was able to look over the SEAR forms of any case 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 recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.
