How Much Do Asbestos Defense Litigation Experts Make?
Asbestos Defense Litigation
Asbestos cases must be thoroughly examined. This involves identifying asbestos-containing products and finding potential defendants. This can include gathering information from coworkers, family members, abatement workers and analyzing documents.
Cetrulo LLP served as national and Regional Defense Liaison Counsel for asbestos litigation dockets. We manage these dockets and coordinate with local counsel to achieve consistent, cost-effective defense strategies.
Asbestos Product Identification
Asbestos is present in a variety of building materials, including cement products, paints and floor tiles. It can also be found in artex, adhesives doors insulation, adhesives, and doors. It is very difficult to determine if a material contains asbestos from its appearance by itself. A certified environmental surveyor can conduct an inspection to determine whether the material is contaminated with asbestos.
When asbestos fibres are airborne, they are tiny and light, meaning they can travel long distances, even through closed doors or windows. When they reach the lungs, they can cause serious health issues. Asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes damaged and releases harmful fibers into the air. It is crucial to not remove or disturb construction materials unless they've been properly labelled and accompanied by an inspection.
Due to the long latency between exposure to asbestos and the development of disease it can be very difficult to obtain relevant discovery in an asbestos action. In addition there are significant concerns regarding the admissibility of the plaintiffs' experts and testimony on the causal link between asbestos exposure and diseases.
In these instances asbestos defense lawyers often argue for summary judgment based on an lack of a factual basis. For example, imagine that plaintiff Paul was involved in a multi-vehicle accident in New York City. He doesn't know the date, location, cars involved or any other information that could lead to the conclusion that defendant David was liable for his injuries.
A New York mesothelioma attorney with experience in this area is recommended. They will examine all facts and documents, including expert reports to determine if summary judgment is the right solution. New York mesothelioma law firms such as Weitz & Luxenberg, Cooney & Conway and Simmons Hanly Conroy are able to assist their clients through this process. Asbestos law firms throughout the country can assist their clients submit their claims to the most appropriate jurisdiction. This could include the State of New York, or a federal district court located in New York City.
Asbestos Disease Identification
Although asbestos is no longer mined or processed in United States, it still exists in buildings and products that were made prior to 1989. These products release fibers into the air as they degrade. They can be inhaled. These fibers can trigger a variety of types of lung diseases.
Lung diseases resulting from asbestos exposure include pleural disease (pleural plaques, thickening and effusions) as well as mesothelioma and asbestosis. Inhaling Avondale asbestos attorneys can cause various symptoms, such as chest pain, fatigue and a shortness of breath. These symptoms might not manifest for decades after an asbestos exposure.
All forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, can cause cancer in humans. Exposure to asbestos causes lung cancer and larynx, as well as ovaries. It can also cause a form of mesothelioma within the linings found in body cavities, such as the heart, stomach and testes. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because it is a latent period of time and shares many symptoms with other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoidosis.
People who are most likely to develop asbestos-related illnesses are those who have worked directly with asbestos or experienced significant environmental exposure. These include boilermakers, construction workers and shipyard workers; railroad and U.S. Navy veterans; and those who assisted with cleaning up following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. These people might experience chest pain, coughing and breathing problems.
A doctor can determine whether a patient suffers from an asbestos-related disease by looking at the patient's medical background, work history, and family history. X-rays and CT scans can help confirm an asbestos-related illness. Patients with asbestosis are encouraged to undergo a yearly lung function test. This will help assess their health. This test can help detect asbestosis ' progression and also identify other health problems that may be connected to the condition. Patients with this condition must also be vaccinated regularly to avoid the development of other respiratory ailments such as psoriasis. The EPA provides an TSCA Hotline and an asbestos Ombudsman that can provide additional information and support.
Asbestos Database Development
Asbestos is comprised of fibrous minerals. It was widely employed in industry and construction due to its strength as well as its fire-repellant and corrosion resistance properties. Asbestos particles inhalation can cause numerous medical issues such as mesothelioma, which is lung cancer, other organs, and neurological dysfunctions. These conditions can manifest for in 30 years or more.
Many asbestos cases involve multiple defendants and require a complex investigation that is often complicated because of a failure to identify the proper asbestos products involved in every case. The ability to identify each product in an asbestos case requires the help of forensic experts, and the use of a wide array of investigative tools and methods, such as interviews with former co-workers and other witnesses as well as subpoenaing work order invoices, and delivery papers from employers, and collecting samples from workplaces and at home. It is also necessary to determine the kind of asbestos, if it's amosite or crysotile, or the crocidolite.
We have a wealth of experience in defending companies in the asbestos industry which includes product manufacturers, distributors contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers. Our team has served as National Coordinating Counsel and Trial Counsel for a number of asbestos litigation clients and has represented these companies in multiple jurisdictions across the country. We also serve as Defense Liaison Counsel to several of the asbestos dockets in the states, where we manage local and regional counsel to ensure consistency and cost-effective defense strategies as well as results.
Our national approach to managing asbestos defense has proven to be effective. In numerous instances it has reduced legal costs by millions of dollars when compared to the amount companies paid to other firms. This unique and abrasive approach to managing asbestos cases has been acknowledged by courts throughout the country.
We also have experience the defense of massive toxic tort suits brought against pharmaceutical companies and industrial chemicals and petroleum chemicals. These lawsuits are based on the claim that exposure to these substances can cause diseases like restrictive and obstructive lung disorders and occupational asthma, as well as cancers of various types, and other neurological conditions.
Medical Expert Witnesses
Medical expert witnesses in asbestos cases are crucial in part because the signs of exposure to asbestos can be confused with other illnesses like emphysema and other types of lung cancer. It is essential for attorneys to have access to experts in these fields who can aid in identifying different diseases and to show how each illness is caused by different types of exposure.
Often, the best evidence for this is found in the medical records of asbestos victims. X-rays, CT scans and biopsy samples are usually available to examination. However, in order to make the most of this information, it's essential to have medical professionals who can analyze the information and offer opinions on the probabilities, causation, and other issues.
Medical experts who testify in asbestos cases have a good reputation and have been involved in dozens, perhaps hundreds, of cases. Their reputation boosts their credibility in the eyes of jurors. They have a lot of experience in preparing themselves to be witnesses, and they know how best to answer questions from defendants and how to present their findings to the judge.
It is essential that both medical and scientific experts present their opinions on the various causes of asbestos disease. It is not enough to prove that the victim suffers from mesothelioma. It has to be shown how asbestos exposure exposed the plaintiff to carcinogens and how smoking aggravated the risk of mesothelioma.
Expert witness fees can be an important portion of costs associated with asbestos cases. This is why it is important for a defending attorney to be able identify and hire the right expert witness for a particular case.
At Swartz Campbell, we counsel material suppliers, product manufacturers distributors, premises owners, employers and other defendants in asbestos cases in federal and state courts across the nation. Our team of committed and experienced attorneys are well-versed both defensively and offensively in asbestos litigation. Contact us to find out how we can help you.