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

An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.

Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have an experienced 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 manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of asbestos's dangers however, they failed to inform their employees and customers.

New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to impact on the community around it.

Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.

The defendants may be able mitigate some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the amount of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurance company's policy.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

A variety of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't show up until decades after the 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 cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and customers for a long time creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.

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

Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also established specific procedures to assess and resolve such cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. 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 an extra 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 not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.

Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated cases. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York, including their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos compensation litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to resolve potential liability and safety concerns.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos settlement litigation. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client objectives. In addition, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.

The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability and in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts as well as before various supreme and appellate courts.

While 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), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, work history and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms from 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 reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the development and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.