14 Questions You Shouldn't Be Insecure To Ask About 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 injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed, but failed to warn the employees and the public.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in their work environments. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to reduce some of the costs associated with these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only accountable for a small portion of the claim value. However, New York law has not provided a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related diseases
A wide range of asbestos-related diseases can develop due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, but they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma ovarian. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma type for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have declared bankruptcy. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also developed special procedures to review and resolve these cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has been steadily increasing. asbestos attorneys created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to determine how much a plaintiff should be awarded.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client from a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners in cases involving claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any risks to safety and liability.
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 Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's objectives. It also plays a major part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its client.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts as well as before various supreme and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about the claimants, such as medical reports, work history and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account password to access these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.