15 Reasons You Shouldn t Be Ignoring Asbestos Defense Attorney
An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can protect those who's financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation could cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit 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 hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos can cause illnesses such as mesothelioma lawsuit or lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers of the dangerous mineral, but they failed to warn their employees and consumers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also cause mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase further. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms, which advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants may be able to mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods expire or they are only accountable for a small percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs. This is called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increase in fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma lawsuit, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other Mesothelioma Attorney types, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. When they did not remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the 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, producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain 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 corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve asbestos-related 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 that have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to determine the amount the plaintiff is entitled to.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex matters. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts of New York and their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, manage 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 litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have extensive 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 scientific issues involved in these cases as and unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts and before various supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative Reports Encapsulated) that contained confidential data about the claimants. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then review any SEAR forms that she received from 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 successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.