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

An asbestos defense lawyer can protect the financial security of those who have been injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.

Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. We are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.

New York Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as 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 extremely complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma lawyer 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 asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are a result 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 did not inform their employees and customers.

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

Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed at work. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos Claim dust on a regular basis.

The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully 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 grow. This type of litigation is typically fueled by specialized asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.

Defendants may be able to mitigate some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to distribute the liability if the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.

Asbestos-related illnesses

A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). The inhalation of these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing however they do not cause mesothelioma or cancer.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed, and removed these materials from their workplaces, as well as spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.

Other asbestos-related diseases apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma because it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.

Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was hazardous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. These people can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. The victims can now seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.

Asbestos Litigation in New York

For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now confronting the consequences of their inattention. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos lawyer-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.

Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.

A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.

New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.

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 examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision before the end of the year.

New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve allegations of several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. They are familiar with New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.

The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.

Representation of Plaintiffs

A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to determine and deal with potential liability and safety issues.

In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises local and regional counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. In addition it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets, negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.

The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex science involved in these cases as and particular legal issues that arise while representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.

Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.

While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information on the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.

In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.