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

An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local scale. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos lawyer cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, 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 the dangerous material. In recent times, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the community around it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to it at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes to work and come 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. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants may be able lower some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they're only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged exposure is part of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can cause many different illnesses. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling asbestos compensation fibers can cause scarring in the lungs. This is known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos case when they failed to remove it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and their customers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get 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 attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established special procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos 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 who have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, 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 in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should receive.

Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end this year.

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

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors and property owners 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.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this role Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. Additionally, it plays a key part in the administration of asbestos compensation dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

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

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work history, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.