10 Quick Tips About Asbestos Litigation
New York Asbestos Litigation
New York City ranked second in mesothelioma-specific case filings nationwide in 2019. Mesothelioma is a very serious asbestos-related cancer with a long period of latency, is the second most prevalent mesothelioma case nationwide in the year 2019.
Recent NYCAL decisions will have a profound impact on the defense of asbestos lawsuits. These decisions will likely result in extensive summary judgment motions focusing on the defendant's fiber/cc tests and expert reports placing any respirable exposure under an exposure threshold for ambient conditions.
Expert Testimony
New York asbestos attorneys rely heavily on the testimony of experts to support their client's claims. Asbestos litigation can be very expensive, and expert witness fees make up a significant portion of the total costs. Both sides could spend hundreds of hours in preparation to question an expert. Experts can charge thousands of dollar per day. For this reason, it is essential for litigants to thoroughly research and vet potential experts in advance. Failure to do this could result in a failed Daubert challenge and lost cases.
New York has had a long history of industrialization. Many workers were exposed to asbestos. Many of these workers have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. These workers can claim compensation from the companies who exposed them to asbestos.
Asbestos suits are common in New York and the judges are familiarized with the issues. For example, the courts expedite trials for terminally patients, and often consolidate cases to reduce trial expenses. In addition, courts regularly review their discovery procedures to make sure they are current and efficient.
In a landmark case, Brown v. Weitz & Luxenberg the First Department held conclusory cumulative-exposure statements made by plaintiffs' experts were not sufficient to establish causation. The defendants appealed the case, and a decision is expected in the near future.
The court's decision is expected to have an impact on asbestos litigation in New York. The mesothelioma lawyers are currently bombarding daytime television with commercials that encourage asbestos victims to file suits, promising huge settlements. The niche litigation was particularly lucrative for plaintiffs’ attorneys who paid millions of referral fees to Sheldon Silver. Silver was recently found guilty of federal corruption charges relating to the millions he made by directing asbestos cases to their firm.
In addition to these legal developments, New Yorkers should continue to be aware of the possibility of asbestos exposure in their work environments and communities. Asbestos lawsuits have been increasing and New York is among the most prominent jurisdictions for mesothelioma verdicts.
Summary Judgment
A New York asbestos lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases are extremely serious, and they have a long period of latency. This means that the victims may not have started suffering from symptoms until twenty or 25 years after their initial exposure. There are ways for workers to safeguard themselves from asbestos exposure and prevent future illnesses. Several major changes have occurred in the asbestos litigation scene in recent years. The most significant development came in 2015 in which the New York political establishment was shaken to the core following the conviction on federal corruption charges brought against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver's corruption convictions stemmed from his secret moonlighting at the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, which he used to earn millions of dollars in referral fees for the firm.
The courtroom politics on the NYCAL docket have also shaken the new Albany landscape. The longtime manager of the NYCAL docket, Justice Sherry Klein Heitler was sacked in 2021 amidst reports that she gave the "red-carpet treatment" to asbestos cases filed by Weitz & Luxenberg. Justice Peter Moulton took over NYCAL in the aftermath of the shake-up. His decisions have made it difficult for defendants to get the benefit of a summary judgement.
In Juni the year 2003, the Court of Appeals gave NYCAL an ominous dose of reality by rejecting the theory of cumulative exposure that was a popular argument in the litigation. Instead, it demanded plaintiffs prove causation using sufficient scientific proof from their experts. This ruling gives New York asbestos attorneys a powerful tool to defend against claims that claim to be false or speculative.
In Reid v Abex, the Court of Appeals also gave asbestos defense lawyers support for their efforts to require plaintiffs to prove the existence of a specific causal connection between their asbestos-related disease and the specific products they were exposed to. The decision imposes plaintiffs with the obligation to prove that their condition was caused by the specific friction materials and linings which were supplied by the defendant, not general exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Causation
The most significant challenge facing asbestos defendants is the need to prove that there is a causal link. It is generally accepted that a person's exposure to asbestos-containing materials can cause mesothelioma and various other diseases, however, the law requires plaintiffs to establish specific exposure to products manufactured by particular defendants in order to prevail on their claims.
This is a tough standard to meet, especially in NYCAL where only one judge oversees all NYC asbestos litigation. In the 16 years since Parker, New York courts have struggled to apply the principles of the case. In 2016, for example, the First Department in Matter of NYC Asbestos Litigation (Juni) ruled that a plaintiff's expert testimony that he "regularly exposed" himself to asbestos-containing friction products was not sufficient under Nemeth to establish a specific causality.
Juni has placed a significant burden on defendants, and could force them settle their claims at a lower amount than they are entitled. A mesothelioma lawyer in NYC can explain the advantages of filing a lawsuit and your options for financial compensation if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
New York state was the second most popular jurisdiction for mesothelioma-related lawsuits in 2019 and is responsible for 6% of national asbestos litigation. As many as 13,000 people are estimated to have been diagnosed with the disease in New York. The majority of those affected are contractors or workers who were exposed to asbestos attorney because it was being employed in industrial applications.
The symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't manifest until between 25 to 50 after the initial exposure. Many asbestos victims are fighting to get the compensation they require for medical expenses as well as lost wages and companionship loss, in addition to other damages.
While it is essential to make a mesothelioma claim promptly, it is also crucial to consult with a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney who can help you obtain the maximum amount of financial restitution that is possible. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer from NYC today to set up a free no-obligation consultation. Your lawyer can help you determine if you are qualified for financial compensation from an asbestos trust.
Damages
If you're suffering from mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness A successful lawsuit can pay your family members for their losses. Compensation can cover medical bills and lost wages resulting from inability to work, home care expenses, mental stress and suffering loss of quality funeral and burial costs, as well as other costs. An experienced New York mesothelioma attorney will examine the parties responsible and collect evidence to support your claims. After that, your lawyer can start a civil lawsuit in court before the statute of limitations expires.
The courts have dockets specialized for asbestos cases in order to speed up the process. They expedite trials for terminally-ill plaintiffs, and group similar cases. Additionally, the judges handling these cases are aware of the heightened risks associated with asbestos exposure and are trained to ensure that justice is served.
According to a study that was conducted recently, New York City is the main hub in the country for asbestos litigation. Asbestos-related victims have claimed billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer that is caused by exposure to hazardous asbestos fibers. It is a rare, incurable cancer. However lawsuits filed against companies that exposed workers to asbestos fibers have helped compensate victims.
These lawsuits aim to punish corporate wrongdoers as well in compensating mesothelioma victims or other asbestos-related illnesses. These lawsuits seek punitive damages awards in addition to compensatory damages. The lawsuits are meant to discourage the defendant from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
The NYCAL decision gives defendants hope that they can avoid punitive damages. They had the possibility of huge judgments in the past with the theory that their conduct had been so indecent that they should pay punitive damage awards to deter other people from following suit.
With the decision in favor of plaintiffs, companies named as defendants in NYCAL cases are likely to be dismissed in a substantial percentage of their cases. Even if they were to be dismissed, they would still have to pay legal fees to defend a case they did not deserve to be involved in.