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

A defense attorney for asbestos can assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.

Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a national, regional and local level. As such, we are familiar with the particular issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated and it is crucial to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this hazardous 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 like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.

The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues impact the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could rise further. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for only a small percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to allocate the liability if the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different illnesses. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and sometimes the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos settlement-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. These people can now claim 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-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain 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 lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created special procedures to review and resolve 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 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 every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to decide how much money the plaintiff is entitled to.

The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex cases. 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 in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, lawyers develop strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential risks to safety and liability.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing Asbestos case-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential data about the claimants. This included medical reports as well as work histories and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files and was able to review the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.