An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this hazardous mineral, but did not warn their employees and clients.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were incorrectly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can lead to a wide range of illnesses. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed, and removed these materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they failed to remove it from their products. These people now have the right to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. In the aftermath, victims are able to seek the compensation 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 employees and their customers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.
A number of states have set up asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also developed special procedures to asbestos attorney asbestos review and resolve these cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
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 assess the merits of each claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. They are well-versed in the rules regulations, rules, and policies 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 in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees regional and local 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 aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science involved in these cases as and particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts and before various appellate and supreme 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 contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work 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 go through any SEAR forms from 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 well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.