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 harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex, so it’s important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma attorney and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases 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 triggered by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband’s work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for only for a small proportion 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 occurs within and outside the insurer’s policy periods.
asbestos lawyers-related diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. 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 fibers which accumulate 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 of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They also cause breathing problems and pain but they don’t cause mesothelioma or cancer.
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 the inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. If they didn’t remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. They are now paying the price for their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families receive the justice they need. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos 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 who have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through this special court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount the plaintiff is entitled to.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox’s lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York and their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client in a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing potential safety and liability issues.
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 develops litigation strategies, manages local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs’ attorneys and coordinating discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, which includes those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order 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 recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.