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 who have been injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the particular issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
asbestos compensation is a harmful fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York
asbestos legal attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma litigation is costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that promote on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to distribute liability when the alleged risk is of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A variety of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the cause of death 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 illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
Most of the time, symptoms of
asbestos settlement-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, cleaned, and removed these materials from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of those exposed to
asbestos settlement.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove asbestos from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims are able to seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of the court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated issues. They are familiar with the rules regulations, rules, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is most effective to defend the client from an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client objectives. Additionally it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated 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 a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. This included medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of
asbestos settlement-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use a password to access the files and was able to go through 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 acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.
