New York Asbestos Litigation
New York City ranked second in mesothelioma-specific case filings nationwide in 2019. Mesothelioma, a serious asbestos-related cancer with a long period of latency is the second most common mesothelioma case nationwide in 2019.
Recent NYCAL decisions are expected to have a major impact on the defense of asbestos lawsuits. These decisions are likely to result in a significant number of summary judgment motions based on the defendant’s fiber/cc tests and expert reports that place any respirable exposure under an exposure threshold in the ambient.
Expert Testimony
New York asbestos attorneys rely heavily on the testimony of experts to prove their clients’ claims. Asbestos litigation can be extremely expensive and expert witness costs make up a significant portion of the total cost. Lawyers on both sides could spend hours in preparation to question an expert, and experts can charge thousands of dollars per day. For this reason, it is important for litigants to carefully examine and verify potential experts in advance. In the absence of doing so, it could result in a failure of the Daubert challenge or losing cases.
New York has a rich industrial history, and many workers have been exposed to toxic asbestos. Many of these workers have developed asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma or lung cancer. They can claim compensation from the companies who exposed them to asbestos.
Asbestos lawsuits are an everyday occurrence in New York, and judges are well-versed in the issues that arise. For instance, the courts expedite trials for terminally ill plaintiffs, and they often consolidate cases to reduce trial expenses. In addition the courts are regularly reviewing their discovery procedures to make sure they are up-to-date and effective.
In one notable case, Brown v. Weitz & Luxenberg, the First Department held that conclusory statements on exposure cumulatively made from plaintiffs experts were not sufficient to establish causation in an asbestos exposure litigation (http://autogenmotors.com/bbs/board.php?Bo_Table=free&wr_id=496615) case. The case was then appealed by the defendants, and a decision is expected soon.
The court’s ruling is expected to impact asbestos litigation throughout New York. There are currently mesothelioma-specific law firms saturate the daytime with advertisements urging people to file asbestos lawsuits, promising giant settlements. The niche litigation was particularly lucrative for plaintiffs’ attorneys who repaid millions of referral fees to Sheldon Silver. Silver was recently convicted of federal corruption charges relating to the millions he earned by directing asbestos cases to their firm.
New Yorkers should be vigilant in their workplaces and communities to avoid asbestos exposure. Asbestos lawsuits are on rise, and the state is one of the top jurisdictions for mesothelioma cases.
Summary Judgment
A New York asbestos lawyer can assist you in obtaining the settlement you’re entitled to.
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious diseases, such as mesothelioma and cancer of the lung. These are serious diseases and have a long time to develop. This means that victims may not be suffering from symptoms until 20 or 25 years after the initial exposure. Fortunately, there are steps that workers can take to safeguard themselves from asbestos exposure and prevent future illness. In recent years the asbestos litigation landscape has seen a number of significant changes. The most significant change came in 2015 in which the New York political establishment was shaken to its foundation following the conviction on federal corruption charges of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver’s convictions for corruption were a result of his covert employment at the law firm Weitz & Luxenberg. He made millions in referral fees.
The new Albany landscape is also impacted by the courtroom political machinations of the NYCAL docket. The longtime manager of the NYCAL docket, Justice Sherry Klein Heitler, was replaced in 2021 amid reports that she had given the “red-carpet treatment” to asbestos cases brought by Weitz & Luxenberg. Justice Peter Moulton took over NYCAL in the following shake-up. His rulings have placed a significant burden on defendants, making it nearly impossible for them to obtain summary judgment.
In Juni the year 2003, the Court of Appeals dealt NYCAL with a brutal dose of reality, renouncing the cumulative-exposure theory that had become fashionable in the litigation, and insisting that plaintiffs prove specific causation through sufficient scientific expression by their experts. This decision provides New York asbestos defense attorneys an effective tool to defend against claims of fraudulent and [empty] speculative claims.
In Reid in Reid Abex the Court of Appeals supported asbestos defense attorneys in their efforts to require plaintiffs to establish a causal connection between asbestos-related illnesses and the products to which they were exposed. This decision imposes plaintiffs with the obligation to establish that their disease was caused by specific linings and friction materials that were supplied by the defendant, rather than general exposure to asbestos specializes in asbestos litigation the workplace.
Causation
The defendants must demonstrate that asbestos caused the disease. The consensus is that exposure to asbestos-containing materials can cause mesothelioma or other diseases. However the law requires that plaintiffs prove specific exposure to products produced by certain defendants in order for their claims to be successful.
This is a tough 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 have struggled to apply the principles of the case. In 2016, for instance, the First Department in Matter of NYC Asbestos Litigation (Juni) found that a plaintiff’s testimony that he “regularly exposed” himself to asbestos-containing friction products was not sufficient under Nemeth to satisfy a specific causation.
Juni has placed a significant burden on defendants and could make them pay less than what they are entitled to. A mesothelioma lawyer in NYC can explain the advantages of filing a suit and your options for financial restitution if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses.
New York state was the second most popular state for mesothelioma-related lawsuits in 2019 and is responsible for about 6% of the national asbestos litigation. As many as 13,000 people are estimated to have been diagnosed with the disease in New York. The majority of the victims were contractors or employees who were exposed to asbestos because it was used in industrial applications.
The signs of mesothelioma aren’t usually evident until between 25 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Many asbestos victims are fighting for the compensation they require for medical expenses loss of wages, companionship loss, among other damages.
It is important to file your mesothelioma claim promptly, but it is also important to consult a mesothelioma lawyer who can help you seek the highest amount of financial compensation. Contact a mesothelioma attorney from NYC to schedule a free appointment that is no-obligation. Your attorney can help you determine if you’re qualified to receive financial compensation from an asbestos litigation cases trust.
Damages
If you suffer from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, a successful lawsuit could compensate your family for your losses. Compensation can cover medical bills, income loss from being unable, home care expenses as well as pain and suffering mental anguish, loss of quality of life and funeral and burial expenses. A seasoned New York asbestos lawyer will investigate the responsible parties to collect evidence and support your claim. After that, your lawyer can start a civil lawsuit in court before the statute of limitations runs out.
The courts are familiar with asbestos lawsuits, and have dockets specifically designed to simplify the process. They speed up trials for terminally ill plaintiffs, and group similar cases. The judges handling these cases have been instructed to ensure justice and are aware of the increased dangers associated with asbestos.
According to a recent study, New York City is the national center for asbestos litigation. asbestos litigation wiki victims have received billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer is caused by asbestos fibers. It is a rare, incurable cancer. However lawsuits brought against companies who exposed workers to asbestos fibers have resulted in compensation for victims.
These lawsuits are designed to punish corporate wrongdoers as in compensating mesothelioma victims or other asbestos-related diseases. These lawsuits seek punitive damages awards, which are in addition to compensatory damages. The lawsuits are designed to deter the defendant from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
However, the NYCAL decision provides defendants with the chance to have a shot of hope in their struggle to stay out of punitive damages. They had the possibility of large judgments in the past in the belief that their conduct was so egregious, that they had to pay damages for punitive harm to deter other people from committing the same offense.
With the ruling in favor plaintiffs, it is expected that a lot of the companies named as defendants will be disqualified. This is because even if they’re dismissed, they will still need to incur legal fees to defend a case that they didn’t deserve to be involved in.