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 toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. As such, we are familiar with the particular issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated, 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 dangerous substance. In recent years there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform their employees and customers.

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

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed to it in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.

The mesothelioma lawsuit is costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. 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 promote on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a tiny portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide liability when the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can cause various illnesses. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. When they did not remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. The affected people are now able to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have gone 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 profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain 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 to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for every client. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and property owners on issues concerning mesothelioma lawsuit-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to identify and address potential safety and liability issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with the client's goals. In addition it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases, as well as specific legal issues that arise while defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials that involved multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts, as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally 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 extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.