15 Reasons To Not Be Ignoring 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 help protect the financial security of those who have been injured through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies were aware asbestos's dangers however, they failed to inform the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Secondhand exposure can also cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially true if they have been wrongly named as defendants. A study indicates 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 file claims with the promise that they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide the liability if the alleged risk is of and outside the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma attorney is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal illness, is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 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 spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma lawyers, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma lawsuit, because it is found in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate it from their products. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying for their negligence. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also developed specific procedures to assess and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated issues. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which 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 from a claim for personal injury resulting from 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 diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any 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 role, the firm develops litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal courts, as well as before various supreme and appellate 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 Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms that she received from 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 its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has a wealth of experience defending businesses against appeals.