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 by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are well-versed in the unique issues and complex scientific aspects that are 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 lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers associated with this hazardous mineral, but failed to warn their employees and consumers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.

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

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different illnesses. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

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

Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma lawyers type for women however it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was hazardous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our 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 established specific procedures to assess and resolve these cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should receive.

At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex cases. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York and their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

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

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners in cases involving claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to address potential safety and liability issues.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role the firm designs strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client objectives. In addition it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from mesothelioma lawyer claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases, as and specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in federal and state 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 consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the asbestos attorney Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access these files, and she could also go through the SEAR forms of any case at 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 clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.