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

An asbestos defense attorney can protect the financial security of those injured through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers are local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the particular issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can trigger various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complex 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 times, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this hazardous mineral, but did not inform their employees and customers.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to affect the community around it.

Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. A study shows 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 TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal condition that is caused by asbestos fibers which are found in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could decrease lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, however they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not show up until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers 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 of developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma ovarian. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. In the aftermath, victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their employees and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying for their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for their clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

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

The panel is currently looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos attorney 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. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.

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

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience 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 settlement cases, including those for respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel had to have access to a password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.