An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and the loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local scale. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and the complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm 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 manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma lawyers and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact, and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits 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 TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurer's policy periods.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma attorney.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their spouses, children, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from 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 diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma lawsuit because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.
There were many companies that employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they failed to remove asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have filed for bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the risks. 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 illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyer Attorneys - Humanlove.Stream, work to hold corporations accountable and obtain 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 created special procedures to review and resolve such cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system is not overloaded the New York Supreme Court has created an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.
At present, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules regulations, policies and guidelines in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for every client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in cases involving claims for mesothelioma attorney and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability concerns.
Bowles Rice in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this capacity, the firm develops litigation strategies, manages local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client goals. 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 client.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when 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 the lead counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel had to have access to a password to access the files. She could then look over 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 clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.