Are You Getting The Most Value You 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 assist in ensuring the financial security of those affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos compensation cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can trigger a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer (Full Post) is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there are more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware of asbestos case's dangers but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase further. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide liability when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different ailments. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Mesothelioma has caused the death 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 disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could decrease lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less common than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma because it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They knew it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove it from their products. These people now are able to sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profits before the safety of their employees and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to supervise NYCAL to stop 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 how much a plaintiff should receive.
Currently, the panel is studying 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 multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in defending these complicated issues. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts and their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is best to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and property owners on issues that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to determine and address potential safety and liability issues.
In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with the client's goals. In addition it plays a crucial role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases as in addition to particular legal issues that arise when defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases before the federal and state courts and before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos compensation cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required a password in order to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms provided by 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. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.