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

A defense attorney for asbestos claim can assist those who's financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos lawsuit litigation and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues impact the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.

The mesothelioma litigation is costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs in and out of the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered 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 diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition that is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs. This is called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically are not evident until years after exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, 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 develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew 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 companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals receive the justice they need. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

Many states have created asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specific procedures to assess and resolve these cases.

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has increased steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. 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 determine whether or not to accept it. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine how much a plaintiff should be awarded.

Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated cases. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules regulations, policies and guidelines in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is the best way to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises local and regional counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential information about the claimants. This included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have access to these files, and she could also go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience as well as its vast trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the development and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.