7 Little Changes That'll Make A Huge Difference In Your Asbestos Litigation
New York Asbestos Litigation New York City ranked second in mesothelioma-specific case filings nationwide in 2019. Mesothelioma is a serious asbestos-related illness with prolonged latency. Recent NYCAL decisions will have a profound impact on the defense of asbestos suits. These decisions will likely result in extensive summary judgement motions focusing on the defendant's fiber/cc tests and expert reports that place any respirable exposure under the threshold of exposure to ambient air. Expert Testimony New York asbestos attorneys rely heavily on the testimony of experts to prove their clients' claims. Asbestos litigation is expensive and expert witness costs account for a significant percentage of total case costs. Both sides could spend hundreds of hours preparing to confront an expert. Experts can charge thousands of dollar per day. For this reason, it is important for litigants to carefully examine and verify potential experts in advance. Bethlehem asbestos lawsuit to do so can result in a failed Daubert challenge and lost cases. New York has had a long history of industrial activity. Many workers were exposed to asbestos. Many of these workers have suffered asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. These workers can seek compensation from the businesses who exposed them to asbestos. Asbestos suits are quite common in New York and the judges are well-versed in the subject. The courts, for instance expedite trials in cases of patients who are terminally ill and consolidate cases when necessary to cut down on trial costs. The courts also examine their discovery procedures to ensure that they are effective and up-to date. In one notable case, Brown v. Weitz & Luxenberg in which the First Department held that conclusory statements on exposure cumulatively made from plaintiffs experts were not sufficient to establish the causality in an asbestos case. The case was appealed by the defendants, and a ruling is expected in the near future. The court's ruling is expected to impact asbestos litigation in New York. Currently, specialized mesothelioma law firms pepper daytime TV with ads urging victims to bring asbestos lawsuits, 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 related to the millions he made by directing asbestos cases to their firm. In addition to these legal developments, New Yorkers should continue to be vigilant about possible asbestos exposure at work and in their communities. Asbestos lawsuits are on the increase and New York is among the most sought-after jurisdictions for mesothelioma verdicts. Summary Judgment A New York asbestos lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Asbestos exposure can lead to serious diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases are agressive and have a long period of latency which means that patients may only have begun experiencing symptoms as recently as 20 or 25 years after the initial exposure. Fortunately, there are steps that workers can take to protect themselves against asbestos exposure and avoid future disease. In recent years the asbestos litigation scene has seen significant changes. The most significant change occurred in 2015 in which the New York political establishment was shaken to its core following the conviction on federal corruption charges of the former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver's convictions for corruption stemmed from his secret employment at the law firm Weitz & Luxenberg. He used this to earn millions in referral fees. The new Albany landscape has also been shaken by the courtroom political machinations of the NYCAL docket. The longtime manager of the NYCAL docket, Justice Sherry Klein Heitler was replaced in 2021 amidst reports that she had given the “red-carpet treatment” to asbestos cases filed by Weitz & Luxenberg. In the aftermath of this reshuffle, Justice Peter Moulton has taken the charge of NYCAL. His decisions have made it more difficult for defendants to obtain summary judgment. In Juni, the Court of Appeals gave NYCAL a hefty dose of reality, rejecting the cumulative exposure theory that was a popular argument in the litigation. Instead it demanded that plaintiffs establish a specific causation with sufficient scientific expression from their experts. This decision provides New York asbestos defense attorneys an effective tool to defend against allegations of fraudulent and speculative claims. In Reid v Abex, the Court of Appeals also gave asbestos defense attorneys support for their efforts to require plaintiffs to establish the existence of a specific causal connection between their asbestos-related disease and the particular products that they were exposed to. In this ruling, plaintiffs are required to prove that their asbestos-related disease was caused by specific friction materials or linings supplied by the defendant rather than general exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Causation The most difficult challenge facing asbestos defendants is the need to prove causation. There is a consensus that exposure to asbestos-containing materials can lead to mesothelioma or other illnesses. However the law requires plaintiffs to demonstrate specific exposure to the products made by certain defendants for their claims to be successful. This is a challenging standard to achieve, particularly in NYCAL where a single judge is responsible for the entire NYC asbestos litigation. In the 16 years since Parker, New York courts struggle to apply the rules from that case. In 2016, for example the First Department in Matter of NYC Asbestos Litigation (Juni) decided that a plaintiff's expert declaration that he “regularly exposed” himself to asbestos-containing friction products was not sufficient under Nemeth to establish a specific causation. Juni has imposed a substantial burden on defendants in NYCAL and could make them settle their claims for less than they are entitled to. A mesothelioma attorney in NYC can explain the advantages of filing a suit and your options for restitution in the event that you're diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases. New York state was the second most popular state for mesothelioma lawsuits in the year 2019 and is responsible for about 6% of the national asbestos litigation. Up to 13,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease in New York. Most of the victims have been workers or contractors who were exposed to asbestos as it was being used in industrial processes. The signs of mesothelioma aren't usually evident until between 25 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Many asbestos patients are fighting to receive the compensation they require to cover medical expenses loss of wages, companionship loss, in addition to other damages. While it is essential to make a mesothelioma claim in a timely manner but it is also essential to work with an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can help you obtain the maximum amount of financial compensation that you can. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer in NYC today to schedule your free no-obligation consultation. Your attorney can help you determine if you're qualified to receive financial compensation from an asbestos trust. Damages If you suffer from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, a successful lawsuit may provide your family with compensation for their losses. Compensation can cover medical bills and lost wages resulting from inability to work, home-care expenses, mental stress and pain loss of quality funeral and burial costs, and other expenses. A seasoned New York asbestos lawyer will look into the responsible parties to gather evidence and support your claim. Your lawyer will then start a civil lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out in your state. The courts have dockets that are specially designed for asbestos cases to streamline the process. They accelerate trials for plaintiffs with terminal illnesses and group similar cases together. In addition the judges who decide these cases are aware of the increased risk of asbestos exposure and are trained to ensure that justice is done. According to a study conducted recently, New York City is the national center for asbestos litigation. Asbestos-related victims received billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, is caused by asbestos fibers. It is an uncommon, incurable cancer. However lawsuits filed against companies that exposed workers to asbestos fibers have helped compensate victims. In addition to compensating victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, these lawsuits are aimed at punishing corporate wrongdoers. These lawsuits seek punitive damage awards that are in addition to compensatory damages. They are intended to discourage the defendant's behavior in the future, and discourage others from participating in a similar course of action. The NYCAL decision gives defendants the chance to avoid punitive damages. In the past, they faced the possibility of huge judgments in these cases according to the prevalent view that their conduct was so egregious that they had to pay punitive damages to deter others from following suit. With the decision in favor of plaintiffs, businesses that are named as defendants in NYCAL cases could be dismissed in a significant proportion of their cases. Even if they were dismissed but they'd still have to pay legal fees to defend a case that they didn't have a right to be involved in.