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 toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and pain and suffering.

Our attorneys serve as local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos law cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney (similar webpage) is experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on 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 have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn their employees and customers.

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 affect the surrounding community.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos legal law firms that advertise on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged risk is of and outside the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different diseases. The mesothelioma disease 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 illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian mesothelioma. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.

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

Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. 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. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision by the end this year.

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

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordination judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

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 premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to identify and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role, Bowles Rice develops strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's needs. In addition it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and 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 plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. These included medical reports as well as work histories and the list of asbestos case-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel had to have access to a password to access the files. She could then look over any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.