15 Reasons To Not Overlook 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 attorney can help protect the financial security of those harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the particular issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
asbestos compensation is a harmful fiber that can cause numerous serious medical conditions, including 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 complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet 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 hazardous area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in their work environments. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the insurer's policy periods.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos case.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma type for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was dangerous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. In the aftermath, 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 companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. They are now paying the price for their inattention to. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get 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 highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition judges have developed special procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of this 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 comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.
Currently, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated cases. 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 serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing potential safety and liability issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and manages local and region counsel to achieve 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 plaintiffs' counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the federal and state courts, as well as a variety of appellate and Supreme Court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) which contained confidential information about the claimants. This included medical reports, work histories, and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
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. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.