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

A defense attorney for asbestos 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, loss of quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.

New York has had a long 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 realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform their employees and customers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially the case if they were wrongly 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 rise further. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible only for a small proportion of the claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can lead to various illnesses. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.

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

Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain 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 large corporations accountable and seek 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. Additionally judges have created special 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 that have been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York as well as their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions in which 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 devise strategies, manage regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. 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 what strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos case. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability issues.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. Additionally, it plays a key part in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex science involved in these cases as in addition to specific legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. 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.

During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. These included medical reports, work histories, and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then look over any SEAR forms from her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully 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.