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 harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos case lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent times there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos settlement and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but did not warn their employees and consumers.

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

Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos and a lot of workers were exposed in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. This type of litigation is typically fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly in and out of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the toxic 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 pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. 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 called pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. The most deadly mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is often diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the safety of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now confronting the consequences of their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt, the caseload of this court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, rules, 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 has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in cases involving claims for mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability concerns.

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 Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's objectives. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with the complex science involved in these cases, as and specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in 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 for respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the claimants, such as medical reports, work history and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account password 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 appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to reach 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.