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 help protect those whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.

Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to inform their employees and customers.

New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with Asbestos Lawsuit dust regularly.

The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are incorrectly named as defendants. A study has revealed 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 driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able lower some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they are only responsible for a tiny portion of the claim value. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly within and outside the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. 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 illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma type for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs in the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

A number of companies employed asbestos legal in the 20th century, but they knew that it was dangerous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people have the right to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. As a result, the 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 profits before the safety of their employees and customers for a long time making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

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

A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition, judges have established special procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos 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 that have been bankrupt the number of cases that have come through the court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

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

At present, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos settlement lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in defending these complicated cases. 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 in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordinating judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and property owners on issues that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises local and regional counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense that is in sync with the client's goals. In addition, 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 attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science 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 numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the federal and state courts, as well as a variety of appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of 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, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could look over any SEAR forms from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.