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

A lawyer for asbestos defense can protect those whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are national, regional and local counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. We are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for the victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex and it is crucial to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.

New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. 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 certain diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not warn their employees and clients.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the community around it.

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

The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible a small portion of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure is within and outside the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related diseases

Exposure to asbestos can trigger many different ailments. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal disease, is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, however they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.

Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, washed, and removed these materials from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. The affected people are now able to seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their inattention to. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such cases.

New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt, the caseload of this special court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overloaded, the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.

The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. They are well-versed in the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and property owners on issues that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its asbestos attorney 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 regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client goals. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with the intricate scientific issues involved in these cases, as and specific legal issues that arise while defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information on the claimants, such as medical reports, work history and the list of asbestos lawsuit (http://trend.mangotree.co.kr/)-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use an account password to access these files, and she could also review the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.