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 assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and the loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are local, regional and national counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the particular issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can trigger a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by 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 had a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this hazardous material. In recent times there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos lawsuit producers than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos can cause illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos's dangers, but failed to warn the employees and the public.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

Defendants may be able to lower some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a tiny percentage of the amount of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related illnesses

A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. 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 don't manifest until decades after exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. People at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos legal-related conditions include workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove it from their products. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek 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 with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has increased steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject 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 examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end this year.

New York asbestos attorney lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated matters. They are knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, 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 vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters 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 in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing risks to safety and liability.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client objectives. Additionally it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

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

Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account password 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 appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.