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

A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local level. As a result, we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos legal attorney (click here to read) is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more claims against former asbestos legal manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos' dangers, but failed to warn the employees and the public.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos directly and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been wrongly identified as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs within and outside the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-related diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Many 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 lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They also cause breathing problems and pain however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma type for women however, it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was hazardous. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their workers and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying for their carelessness. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related diseases 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 attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

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

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through this special court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated cases. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts, 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 in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage 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 knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client from an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs to identify 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 devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's needs. In addition it plays an important role in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science involved in these cases, as well as unique legal issues that arise while defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential data about the claimants. The files contained medical reports, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms from her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience as well as its vast trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.