An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral

An asbestos defense lawyer can help protect the financial security of those affected through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and it is crucial to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to the 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 diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they did not warn their employees and clients.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its older structures and the numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed to it in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation can be expensive for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. This niche litigation is often fueled by specialized asbestos lawyer law firms, which advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to allocate the liability if the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to Asbestos case fibers which accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos settlement fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed have the right to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price 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 receive the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve such cases.

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has increased steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system isn't overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated cases. They are familiar with the asbestos courts in New York as well as their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice asbestos lawsuit Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing safety and liability concerns.

Bowles Rice In addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. 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. In addition it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as 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 attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses against appeals.