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 case (great post to read) can protect those who’s financial security was affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and the loss of quality of life.

Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a national, regional and local level. As such, we are familiar with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in dealing with lawsuits that 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 attorney on your side.

New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases arise out of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn their employees and customers.

The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband’s clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust regularly.

The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as a defendant. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.

The defendants may be able mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they’re only responsible for a tiny percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs within and outside the insurance company’s policy.

Asbestos-related Diseases

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many have died from 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 that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They also cause breathing problems and pain but they don’t cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing products from the workplace, as well as spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.

Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to other illnesses.

A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn’t remove asbestos from their products. The affected people are now able to sue for financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the 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. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos law-related illnesses such as 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 lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for clients.

A number of states have set up asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have created specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos settlement victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have been bankrupt, the caseload of the court has steadily increased. 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 composed of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.

At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated cases. 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 also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role 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 coordinating and trial 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 way to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to address potential safety and liability issues.

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 role the firm formulates litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense, in line with client goals. Additionally it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm’s lawyers are skilled in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science involved in these cases as and unique legal issues that arise while defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Catherine has defended numerous manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead trial counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts and before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.

During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to the files and was able to review the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.

The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.