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

A lawyer for asbestos defense can assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex aspects of science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos legal producers from the past than before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos can cause illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos' dangers, but failed to warn the employees and the public.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation is costly for defendants, particularly when they are incorrectly named as a defendant. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.

Defendants may be able to lower some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is within and outside the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos case can trigger many different ailments. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as 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 cancer and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. As a result, the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and their customers for decades making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.

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

Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos settlement victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through the court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special 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 in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.

At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are familiar with 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 vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity 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 in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is the best way to defend the client from an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, 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.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role, Bowles Rice develops litigation strategies and manages local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's needs. In addition it plays a crucial role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to use an account password to access the files and was able to go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.