An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos compensation defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. This means that we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos can cause illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers associated with the hazardous mineral, but failed to warn their employees and consumers.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been wrongly identified as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue or that they are 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 insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many 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). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically don't manifest until decades after exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma that women suffer from however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't remove it from their products. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their workers and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying for their inattention to. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has increased steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system isn't overwhelmed the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel comprised 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 claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex issues. They are familiar with 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 serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice asbestos settlement Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos attorney-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability 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 the firm designs strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work, and an inventory of asbestos Claim-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel had to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could review any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.