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 who have been affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert 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 years, there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to warn their employees and consumers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide liability when the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma lawsuits. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness 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 these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after 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. 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 diseases, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. They can now seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos attorney-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying for their inattention to. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses such as 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. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has increased steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has created an additional judicial panel that will oversee NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated cases. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts, including their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordinating judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety issues.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the 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, in line with client goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients from mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) that contained confidential information about the claimants. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.