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

Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. This means that we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent times there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.

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

Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurer's policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can cause 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 illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage 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 an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.

The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their spouses, children and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.

There were many companies that used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was hazardous. If they didn't remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. This means that the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. They are now paying for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full settlement.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain maximum compensation for our clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of every claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

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

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex cases. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts of New York, including their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordination judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability issues.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this role Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and manages regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos compensation dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its client.

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

Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts, as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work history and an inventory of asbestos-related 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 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 reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.