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 who have been injured by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer (helpful site) is adept at dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not warn their employees and clients.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos attorney-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit 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 rise further. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for 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 trigger various illnesses. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many have died from 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 compensation fibers which accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos claim in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove it from their products. These people now have the right to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims are able to seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their workers and customers for a long time making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. 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 to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have created asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have created specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has grown steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel comprised 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 of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in litigating these complex cases. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client from an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to identify and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client objectives. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work histories and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to 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 trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.