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
An asbestos compensation defense attorney can protect the financial security of those who have been affected by exposure to this toxic 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 local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, including 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 complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma law firm 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 lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers of the dangerous mineral, but they failed to inform their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
Defendants may be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness, is caused by asbestos fibers which are found in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may decrease lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often are not evident until years after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers 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 of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from however, it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it develops in the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. 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
For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for clients.
A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. The number of cases filed in this court has increased steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York and their rules and regulations and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client against an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and property owners on issues that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos law litigation. In this capacity, Bowles Rice develops litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's objectives. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved 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 numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in 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 worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. These 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 access to a password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is nationally recognized for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.