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 toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the particular issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney (
visit the up coming internet page) is skilled in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they failed to warn their employees and clients.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to
asbestos settlement in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly named 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 further. This kind of litigation is usually driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able mitigate some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is part of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various illnesses. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not appear until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove it from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and consumers for decades making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
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 seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have created special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. 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 have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine how much the plaintiff is entitled to.
Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult matters. 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 in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. 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 best to defend the client in an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice
asbestos lawsuit Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.
Bowles Rice in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, manages local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with the client's goals. In addition, it plays a key role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts, as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the
Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential information about plaintiffs. These included medical reports as well as work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use an account password to access the files and was able to go through the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the development and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.
