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 by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local level. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complicated science associated 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 experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against asbestos producers in the past 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 the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.

New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos due to its old structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed to asbestos in their work environments. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as a defendant. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they only have to pay a small portion of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases 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 can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing products from the workplace and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma general. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the risks. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have created special procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. 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 steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. They are familiar with New York's asbestos courts and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely 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 way to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to resolve potential liability and safety issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's objectives. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and coordinating discovery for its client.

The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma attorneys or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability and in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.