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

An asbestos defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local level. As our lawyers are well-versed with the specific issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. 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-running history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases stem from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they didn't warn their employees and consumers.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos and a lot of workers were exposed to it in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes 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 wrongly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs associated with 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 divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly within and outside the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

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

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 the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 and 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma lawsuits, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma that women suffer from however it is much less common than mesothelioma lawsuit in general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it develops within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and customers for a long time making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve such cases.

New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has grown steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should be awarded.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. 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 in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is the best way to defend the client in an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma lawyer claims, 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.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with the client's goals. In addition it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who claim mesothelioma attorneys and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various Supreme Court 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 cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. These included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.