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 due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As a result, we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
YouTube can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This type of litigation is typically fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible for only a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide the liability if the alleged exposure is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect 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 result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing 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 because it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma type for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other diseases.
There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying for their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get 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 attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have created specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. They are familiar with the rules, regulations, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective and 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 knowledgeable 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 suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity, the firm develops litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with the client's goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases, as well as unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing 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 for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) which contained confidential information about claimants. These included medical reports, work histories, and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to review any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses from appeals.
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