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 assist those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.

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

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can lead to numerous 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 therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent times there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers, but failed to warn their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its old structures and numerous 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 in their work environments. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially true if they have been incorrectly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit 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 policy periods are expired or that they only have to pay a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to allocate responsibility when the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurance policies.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal condition is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in 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 a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically do not manifest until decades after exposure. This is because it can 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 exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove asbestos from their products. These people now have the right to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds established by the 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 by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos settlement-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

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

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

New York is one such state, with its own asbestos legal (check) court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.

Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in the 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 in an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and property owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to identify and address potential safety and liability issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees regional and local counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's needs. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its client.

The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-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 businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases before federal and state courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to a password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms that she received from 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 reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.