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

A defense attorney for asbestos can assist those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.

Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. We are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they didn't warn their employees and consumers.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of 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 around it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be expensive for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible a small portion of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not cause mesothelioma attorneys or cancer.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

There were many companies that employed 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 lawsuit-related manufacturers are bankrupt. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair settlement.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specific procedures to assess and resolve these cases.

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

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should receive.

Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated issues. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts, including their rules regulations, policies and guidelines, as well as other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client from a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's objectives. Additionally it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos attorney dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science 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 a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work history, and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. Then, she could review any SEAR forms from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.