Last week at the Northeast Asbestos Litigators & Judges Forum, some of the most respected mesothelioma attorneys came together to discuss issues and to assess past mesothelioma and asbestos cases. With a goal to ensure they can continue to protect the rights of asbestos-disease victims, the legal professionals collaborated and shared information to identify key strategies that can affect the outcome of an asbestos or mesothelioma claim.
Asbestos is proven to cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, as well as other respiratory diseases. When the mineral is not properly handled harmful asbestos fibers can get into the atmosphere posing health risks to everyone nearby who breathes in those fibers. Many people sickened with these diseases were industrial workers, such as insulators, plumbers, electricians or construction workers, who were exposed to asbestos fibers over an extended period of time.
Some of the companies that mesothelioma sufferers previously worked for did not follow appropriate precautions to prevent their employees from falling ill from the toxic mineral. As a result, the victims of these incurable diseases may be able to pursue an asbestos-exposure lawsuit against the company or agency that exposed them to this toxic substance.
Topics covered during the seminar included:
- Decisions, key factors of the decisions and prevailing strategies in recent trials;
- Asbestos exposure by career workers including electricians, mechanics, drywallers and Navy veterans;
- Best practices for gathering mesothelioma claim evidence;
- Ethical considerations in mass torts.
James C. Long, Jr., a New York mesothelioma attorney at Belluck & Fox, LLP, attended the conference and served as speaker and a panel member. Long is a highly respected attorney with a distinguished career advocating on behalf of asbestos victims. Prior to joining Belluck & Fox, Long served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, where he once served as Acting Chief of the Homicide Unit.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year. While the top priority for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma should be to receive quality medical care, it is also crucial for victims of asbestos-related diseases to know that they have legal rights. They can pursue an asbestos-exposure lawsuit against the company or agency that exposed them to this toxic substance.
The legal team at Belluck & Fox, LLP has won several multi-million dollar verdicts in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of mesothelioma sufferers, and more than $500 million in compensation for clients and their families.
