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

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

Our lawyers are local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the particular issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can trigger a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for the victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform the employees and the public.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been incorrectly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. This kind of litigation is usually driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.

Defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only accountable for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly in and out of the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often are not evident until years 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 diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma, because it develops within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos case-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up 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, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the risks. They are now paying for their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have helped clients 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.

Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate 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 issue its final ruling by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex issues. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts, including their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they have been involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is best to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing potential safety and liability issues.

Bowles Rice In addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and manages regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. In addition, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate scientific issues involved in these cases as in addition to particular legal issues that arise while defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use access to these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.

In addition to its extensive 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 develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.