9 Signs That You re A Asbestos Defense Attorney Expert

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

An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. As such, we are familiar with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn employees and consumers.

New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its old structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed to it at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation is costly for defendants, particularly when they are incorrectly named as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos lawyer law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice 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 expired or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to allocate the liability if the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (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 increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.

A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through this special court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision at the end of 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 difficult issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York and their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

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

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client against an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing risks to safety and liability.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity, the firm develops litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client objectives. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in 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, and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts as well as before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.

During her tenure 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) that contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to a password to access the files. Then, she could go through any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates with plaintiffs' lawyers in the development and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.