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 affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.

Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. We are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to the 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 diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they didn't warn their employees and consumers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to have an impact on the community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible only for a small proportion of the amount claimed. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos legal-related diseases do not show up until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was a risk. When they did not remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their workers and consumers for decades making dangerous products, without warning about the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.

Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving 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 declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through the 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 composed 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 each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

At present, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult cases. They are knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and policies 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 throughout the nation in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos settlement-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular 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, defending them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required an account password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms from her current employer.

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