An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can protect the financial security of those who have been injured by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.
Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. This means that we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers of the dangerous mineral, but they did not inform their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be expensive for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. This kind of litigation is usually supported by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
The defendants may be able lower some of the costs associated with these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they are only accountable for a small percentage of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related Diseases
Exposure to
asbestos lawsuit can trigger a wide range of diseases. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed
asbestos compensation from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, those exposed are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their employees and customers for a long time creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have created specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of the court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in litigating these complex matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules regulations, policies and guidelines, as well as other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma and 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.
Bowles Rice in addition to its
asbestos case practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises local and regional counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with the client's goals. In addition it plays a crucial role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex scientific issues involved in these cases, as in addition to specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in
asbestos lawsuit and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the
Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have access to these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
In addition to its extensive 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. In this capacity, the firm works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.
