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

A lawyer for Asbestos Lawsuit defense can protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex 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 lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated, so it's important 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 substance. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but did not inform their employees and customers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos attorney-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been wrongly named 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 even more. This niche litigation is often fueled by specialized asbestos law firms, which advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to lower some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total amount of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

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

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease, is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing however they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma because it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

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

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their employees and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers 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 asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of the court has been steadily increasing. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. 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 serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees regional and local counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's goals. In addition it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads 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 claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts and before various appellate and supreme court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential information about claimants. This included medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. Then, she could review any SEAR forms from her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.