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 who is a defense attorney for asbestos can protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local level. As a result, we are well-versed in the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits that seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney 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 against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers associated with the dangerous mineral, but they didn't warn their employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases because of its older 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 in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Mesothelioma-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is especially the case if they were incorrectly identified as defendants. A study has revealed 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 daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they only have to pay a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not show up 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 their workplaces and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma lawsuit.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma attorneys and ovarian mesothelioma. The most deadly mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is often diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma lawyer because it develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't remove asbestos from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have declared bankruptcy. As a result, the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their inattention to. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma attorneys, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
A number of states have set up asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve these cases.
New York, a state that 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 and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in defending these complicated cases. They are familiar with the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors and property owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and address potential 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, the firm develops strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense, in line with client objectives. Additionally, it plays a key role in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases as in addition to particular legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts, as well as before various 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 contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She was then able to look over any SEAR forms from her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.