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 protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local scale. As our lawyers are well-versed with the particular issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma 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 lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases are a result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but failed to inform their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in 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 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants may be able reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they are only accountable for a small percentage of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly within and outside the policy period of the insurer.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can trigger a wide range of diseases. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Mesothelioma has caused the death 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 is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

Often, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian mesothelioma. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.

Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't eliminate it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos compensation-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. In the aftermath, victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their workers and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair compensation.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to obtain the highest 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 created specific procedures to assess and resolve such cases.

New York, a state with 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 been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of the court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system isn't overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.

A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much amount of money each plaintiff should receive.

Currently, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts and their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has extensive experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is best to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice asbestos lawsuit 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 also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.

Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos settlement litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's objectives. Additionally it plays an important role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.

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

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

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos case cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. These included medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate 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 against appeals.