An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An
asbestos claim defense attorney can protect the financial security of those who have been affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local level. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complex science associated with
asbestos lawsuit cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between
asbestos compensation and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but didn't warn their employees and consumers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community around it.
Mesothelioma can be caused by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed to it in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be expensive for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurer's policy periods.
Asbestos-related diseases
A wide range of
Asbestos Case-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal condition is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't cause 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 that are inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma ovarian. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women however, it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it is found in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't remove asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. They are now paying the price for their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve 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 that have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through 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 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 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 to announce its final decision by the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex matters. They are familiar with the
asbestos settlement courts in New York, including their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, lawyers develop strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
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 product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, manages local and regional counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client objectives. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science involved in these cases as well as specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, including medical reports, work histories, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience 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 development and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.
