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 by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.

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

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they didn't warn their employees and consumers.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the community around it.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants may be able mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only accountable for a small portion of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is outside of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different illnesses. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically do not manifest until decades after 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 the workplace and their children, spouses and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. If they didn't remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

asbestos legal Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through this court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each case to determine how much the plaintiff is entitled to.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, rules, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.

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

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is best to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing risks to safety and liability.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this role, the firm develops litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense that is in sync with the client's goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.

The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate scientific issues involved in these cases, as in addition to specific legal issues that arise while defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead 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 various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

While 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 information on the claimants, such as medical reports, a history of work and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in trial and appellate work, is recognized nationally for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.