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

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

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local scale. As such, we are familiar with the particular issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos 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 a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos lawsuit litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware the dangers that asbestos posed but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.

The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its old structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are 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 in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. This niche litigation is often fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policies are in a lapse or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs outside of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

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 the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma type for women however, it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't remove it from their products. These people can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.

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

Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to 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 every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to decide how much money the plaintiff is entitled to.

At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated issues. They are familiar with the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordinating judges and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state Asbestos legal litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client objectives. In addition it plays an important role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in federal and state courts as well as various appellate and Supreme 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 Evaluative reports that are encapsulated), which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos case products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could review the SEAR forms of any case she had 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 well-known throughout the country 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 a wealth of experience in defending businesses from appeals.