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

An asbestos defense attorney can help protect the financial security of those who have been harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local scale. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the dangerous mineral, but they didn't 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 community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

Defendants might be able to lower some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related diseases

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal disease is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically do not manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos legal because they failed to remove asbestos from their products. These people now have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. As a result, the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their negligence. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.

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 of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for our clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also created special procedures to review and resolve asbestos-related cases.

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has created a special judicial panel to 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 evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts of New York and their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.

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 advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing potential risks to safety and liability.

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 line with the client's goals. In addition it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.

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

Catherine has defended numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos law-related lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information on the claimants, such as medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required a password in order 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 its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.