14 Common Misconceptions 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 who's financial security was affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the particular issues and complicated science associated asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can trigger various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert law firm on your side.

New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed however, they failed to inform the employees and the public.

New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.

Mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothes at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. This kind of litigation is usually fueled by specialized asbestos law firms, which advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.

The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they are only responsible for only for a small proportion of the amount claimed. However, New York law has not set out a clear policy on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is in and out of the insurer's policy periods.

Asbestos-related Illnesses

A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma attorney is the most serious. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and irritate the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as pleural plaques or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and discomfort in breathing, but they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyer and ovarian mesothelioma. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

There were many companies that employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, those exposed are able to claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now facing the consequences of their inattention. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.

The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to assisting families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also developed special procedures to review and resolve asbestos-related cases.

New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt, the caseload of this court has steadily increased. 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 should be accepted or not. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.

At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling at the end of this year.

New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and can involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult issues. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts of New York as well as their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex 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 collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.

In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity, Bowles Rice develops strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's objectives. Additionally, it plays a key role in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and also leads discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma attorney and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex research and technology involved in these cases as well as unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

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

While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) that contained confidential information about plaintiffs. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as the list of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs used or worked near. Vogel had to have a password in order to access the files. She was then able to review 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 widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending businesses against appeals.