Bernard Daskal
Our by the numbers review of the New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) in 2020 shows COVID19-related court closures had no impact on overall case filings.
14: Number of plaintiffs’ law firms filing asbestos personal injury actions in NYCAL in 2020 (down from 15 law firms in 2019).
336: Total number of NYCAL actions filed in 2020 (up from 322 cases in 2019).
31: The number of NYCAL actions filed in 2020 involving allegations of exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc products. Recent years have seen an increase in filings in this subset of NYCAL actions.
197: Number of NYCAL actions filed in 2020 by Weitz & Luxemberg, P.C. Weitz & Luxemberg continues to outpace other law firms in the number of new cases filed. The next largest filer was Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, with 41 new actions. Belluck & Fox, LLP rounded out the top three filers with 19 new cases. Nine law firms filed 10 or fewer new cases in NYCAL in 2020.
Beyond the numbers, NYCAL saw a change at the top of its judicial administration. Following Justice Manuel Mendez’s elevation to the Appellate Division in July 2020, Justice Adam Silvera was appointed the new NYCAL Coordinating Judge.
LDE represents certain defendants in NYCAL, as well as in other counties in New York State and in the Asbestos Multi-County Litigation in New Jersey. Bernard Daskal has been representing defendants in asbestos litigation since for over 20 years.