15 Shocking Facts About Asbestos Defense Attorney
An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local scale. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware the dangers that asbestos posed however, they failed to inform their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to divide the liability if the alleged risk is of and outside the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs. This is known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not show up until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos attorney-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. If they didn't remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos attorney-related companies have declared bankruptcy. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation 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 and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these 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 been bankrupt, the caseload of this special court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in litigating these complex cases. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York as well as their rules and regulations, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice asbestos case (Discover More) Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and property owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety concerns.
Bowles Rice In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos lawsuit litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with the client's goals. In addition it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits as well as in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has substantial experience arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports and work histories, as well as the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is nationally recognized for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.