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

An asbestos defense attorney can help protect the financial security of those who have been harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos settlement exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos' dangers, but failed to warn employees and consumers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma following 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 can be expensive for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny portion of the amount of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.

Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often are not evident until years after initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of the 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 dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove asbestos from their products. These people now have the right to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos case (anchor)-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.

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

Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specific procedures for evaluating and resolving such 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 been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult matters. They are familiar with the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have been in close contact 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 way to defend a client against a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing risks to safety and liability.

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 formulates litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. Additionally, it plays a key role in the management 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, defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as 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 before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of 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 plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. Then, she could look over any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.