An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A defense attorney for asbestos can protect those whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous 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 on a regional, national and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York
asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos' dangers but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the amount claimed. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to divide liability when the alleged risk is of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various ailments. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death 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 asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically do not manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, however it is less common than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. These people can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specific procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as increasing numbers of
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 keep 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 rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.
At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex issues. They are well-versed in New York's
asbestos legal courts and their rules and regulations and 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 complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have worked closely 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 way to defend a client in an asbestos lawsuit (
visit this web page link)-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and deal with potential liability and safety issues.
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 strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client objectives. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, which includes those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in
asbestos compensation and product liability personal injury lawsuits, and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about claimants. These included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.
