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 assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys serve as national, regional and local counsel in massive toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the particular issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex and it is crucial to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents were 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 realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos' dangers but did not take the time to warn their employees and customers.

New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its old structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to have an impact on the community around it.

Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible for only for a small proportion of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute the liability if the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses 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 ovarian. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos compensation in the 20th century, however they knew that it was dangerous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to sue for 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 workers and consumers for decades making dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair settlement.

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

Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos legal court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. The caseload in this specialty court has grown steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system does not get overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts of New York, including their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers create strategies, coordinate and manage local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each 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 knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to address potential safety and liability issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity, the firm develops strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its client.

The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with complex research and technology involved in these cases, as well as unique legal issues that arise while defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work history and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with 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. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.