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 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 the loss of quality of life.

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

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by 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 claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to warn their employees and consumers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially true if they have been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms, which advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos legal-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma ovarian. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove it from their products. They can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim 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 safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos lawsuit-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.

Belluck & Fox is 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 lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.

Many states have created asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have created special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has established an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also assess the merits of every 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 ruling 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 with the litigation of these difficult cases. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts of New York as well as their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which 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 involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety issues.

Bowles Rice in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.

The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos case and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate courts.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos 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 on the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required a password in order 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 trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses from appeals.