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

An asbestos defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. As a result, we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex, and it is critical to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos compensation litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but did not inform their employees and customers.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been incorrectly 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 increase even more. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that promote on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial 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 only a small percentage of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is of the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Exposure to asbestos can trigger various diseases. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal condition that is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, washed and removed asbestos claim-containing products from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

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

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

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such 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 gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

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

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, manage regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide 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 have been involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos lawsuit-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any 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 the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its client.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has defended numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos claim-related cases before federal and state courts and before various supreme and appellate courts.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could look over any SEAR forms from her current employer.

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. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.