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 who have been injured 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 attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local level. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

asbestos settlement fibers are dangerous and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at dealing with lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.

New York has a long history of asbestos claim litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos claim can cause illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they didn't warn their employees and clients.

The New York City area is particularly prone to Asbestos Case-related diseases due to its older structures and the numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as a defendant. 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 even more. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related Diseases

Exposure to asbestos can lead to many different ailments. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.

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) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.

The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is because 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 the workplace as well as spouses, children, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.

Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. As a result, the victims are able to seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

Asbestos companies have put profits over the safety of their employees and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such cases.

New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. The caseload in this specialty court has grown steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

A panel composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.

The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. 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 has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordination judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving 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 illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.

Bowles Rice in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with the client's goals. Additionally, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending companies in state and federal courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, acting as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) which contained confidential information about plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports and work histories, as well as the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience in defending businesses against appeals.