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 who's financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

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

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert 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 claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.

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

Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma lawsuit following exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.

Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially true if they have 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 increase. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.

Defendants might be able to mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma Attorney is a rare but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous Mesothelioma Lawyers type is ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma attorney because it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they failed to remove asbestos from their products. These people can now seek financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. They are now paying the price for their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full 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, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally judges have created specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos 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 who have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.

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

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

The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. 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 which strategy is the best way to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety 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, Bowles Rice develops litigation strategies and manages local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's objectives. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.

During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the claimants, such as medical reports, work histories and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could review the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

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