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 who's financial security was affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos settlement cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
asbestos compensation is a deadly fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.
New York has had a long-running history of asbestos attorney litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers, but failed to warn the employees and the public.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos and a lot of workers were exposed in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were incorrectly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants may be able to mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a tiny portion of the amount of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can lead to a wide range of ailments. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was hazardous. If they didn't remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have filed for bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their employees and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established specific procedures to assess and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of this special court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.
Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. They are knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, 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 also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in 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 from an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates 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 capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's goals. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work histories, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to use an account password to access the files and was able to look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience as well as its vast trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses from appeals.