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 help protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the dangerous mineral, but they did not warn their employees and clients.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. In addition, exposure to asbestos lawsuit through secondhand sources can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be expensive for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as defendants. A study has revealed 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 daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible for only a small percentage of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs in and out of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.

Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove it from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying for their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also established specific procedures to assess and resolve such cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system isn't overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to decide how much money a plaintiff should receive.

Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are familiar with 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 throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and premises owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's goals. Additionally, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate scientific issues involved in these cases as and specific legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases before federal and state courts as well as before various supreme and appellate courts.

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos legal cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. 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, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.