20 Fun Facts About Asbestos Defense Attorney
An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer for asbestos defense can help protect those whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.
Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential 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 are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they did not warn their employees and clients.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
mesothelioma lawsuit is caused by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed at work. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been wrongly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able mitigate some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they're only accountable for a small percentage of the total claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate responsibility when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can trigger a wide range of illnesses. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Often, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma lawyer, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma because it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove asbestos from their products. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals get 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 attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have created asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specific procedures to assess and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The caseload in this specialty court has increased steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. In order to ensure that the justice system is not overloaded the New York Supreme Court has created a special judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each case to decide how much money the plaintiff is entitled to.
The panel is currently studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in defending these complicated cases. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts of New York and their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee 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 special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
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 premises owners on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability concerns.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity, the firm develops litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client objectives. It also plays an important part 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 attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma lawyers or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are acquainted with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts, as well as before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, including medical reports, work histories and the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files and could review the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.