15 Incredible Stats About Asbestos Defense Attorney
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 can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and the 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 specific issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it's important 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 filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos legal and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers, but failed to warn their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma litigation can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 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 television during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible only a small percentage of the value of the claim. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure is outside of the insurer's policy periods.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
A variety of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissue 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. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get 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 accountable large corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created special procedures to review and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of the court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system does not get overwhelmed and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an additional judicial panel that will oversee 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 consider the merits of every claim to determine how much amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by 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 difficult matters. They are familiar with New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client in a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, distributors and property owners on issues that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its national asbestos claim practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm formulates litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with the client's goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. asbestos legal defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts, as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could review the SEAR forms of any case at 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 well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.