News Release: Belluck & Fox and Social Media Victims Law Center Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit against Meta, ByteDance, TikTok and the MTA
Popular since the 1980s, subway surfing has seen a resurgence among teens due to social media. Starting in 2021, the MTA reported a significant increase in incidents, with more than 450 cases in the first half of 2023. In that year, five people died from subway surfing in New York City, compared to five deaths between 2018 and 2022.
On the first anniversary of Zackery’s death, his family and friends gathered at the Williamsburg Bridge for a candlelight vigil and marched to the location near where Zackery fell to his death. This event aimed to unite the community in remembrance of Zackery, to share cherished memories, and to advocate for action against this deadly trend. Belluck & Fox LLP, along with the Social Media Victims Law Center, are committed to seeking justice for Zackery and, hopefully, providing some form of peace to his loved ones.
About the Social Media Victims Law Center
The Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC), socialmediavictims.org, was founded in 2021 to hold social media companies legally accountable for the harm they inflict on vulnerable users. SMVLC seeks to apply principles of product liability to force social media companies to elevate consumer safety to the forefront of its economic analysis and design safer platforms to protect users from foreseeable harm.
About Belluck & Fox LLP
Belluck & Fox, founded on the philosophy of pursuing justice, one family at a time, has been dedicated to fighting for justice and securing compensation for its clients. Belluck & Fox law firm specializes in wrongful death lawsuits involving a variety of circumstances including nursing home abuse or neglect, workplace accidents, public transportation disasters, motor vehicle accidents, and defective products. While no amount of financial compensation can replace the loss of a loved one, victims’ families should be compensated fairly for the wrongful death, providing them with a degree of financial comfort and justice for those left behind.
Read the Business Wire feature here.
Celebrating Exceptional Work in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs: Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® for Partner Joseph Belluck
New York City (September 18, 2023) – Belluck & Fox LLP proudly congratulates partner Joseph Belluck on his recognition in the milestone 30th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. The highly regarded publication, known for over 40 years as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States, has publicly released its 2024 recognitions. He has received this honor for his exceptional work in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs.
Belluck & Fox, LLP was founded 25 years ago and has recovered over $1 billion dollars for its clients. With a focus on asbestos litigation and personal injury law, the firm champions for their clients and families. This passion is evident in the recognition that they have received from numerous publications and companies, including The National Law Journal, US News & World Report, the Better Business Bureau, and The Best Lawyers in America®.
‘I am once again very grateful and humbled by this acknowledgment from my peers,’ Joe commented. ‘Throughout my career, I have always fiercely advocated for our clients and will continue the pursuit of justice for every single client of Belluck & Fox, LLP.’
Joe is a highly respected attorney and founding partner of Belluck & Fox, LLP, known for his superior representation of clients and strong ethical standards. With a focus on mesothelioma, truck and construction accidents, and other serious injury litigation, he has dedicated his legal career to supporting consumers and workers. Through dedication and extensive knowledge, he has settled over $1 billion in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits. Joe is also charitable and a humanitarian, chairing multiple organizations and dedicating his time and knowledge to many great causes.
Joe’s inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey, which gathered more than 13.7 million confidential evaluations from fellow legal professionals this year. Best Lawyers® firmly believes in the power of peer recognition, and their peer review methodology remains at the center of the company’s ideology. Their philosophy is simple: the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are. This year’s overwhelming response, with almost 25,000 voters participating in the survey, demonstrates the immense respect and admiration Joe has garnered in his field. The outstanding achievements of Joe in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, as acknowledged by The Best Lawyers in America®, are a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional legal skills, and commitment to excellence. This recognition serves as an inspiration to his peers and a reassurance to his clients that they are working with one of the best in the field.
About Belluck & Fox, LLP
Personal. Professional. Proven. Founded in 2002 by Joseph Belluck and Jordan Fox, Belluck & Fox LLP is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in cases of mesothelioma and asbestos, personal injury, and other forms of injustice. The firm represents clients across the United States based out of New York City with additional offices around the state in Albany, Rochester, and Woodstock, as well as Massachusetts and Maine. They have secured over $1 billion in verdicts for their clients. For more information, visit www.belluckfox.com.
Harris Marks & Joseph Belluck Secure $6 Million Settlement in Syracuse Labor Law Construction Case
Belluck & Fox recently achieved one of the largest Labor Law settlements for a construction accident in the Syracuse area. Attorney Harris Marks and firm partner Joseph Belluck secured $6 million in compensation for a painter who fell while on the job and is now permanently paralyzed.
The person bringing the lawsuit, a 61-year-old retired maintenance worker and self-employed painter and contractor, had fallen from an unsecured ladder while painting the outside of a building owned by the defendants. This fall caused severe injuries including permanent quadriplegia, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. Despite obvious safety concerns like obstacles and an overhead awning that created a dangerous working environment, the defendants failed to provide any safety equipment or assistance to secure the ladder.
The case settled for the full amount of the primary and excess insurance coverage policies in the amount of $6 million. The matter was originally scheduled for trial at the end of November 2023.
In March 2023, the Supreme Court in Onondaga County ruled in favor of the plaintiff, granting partial summary judgment under a law known as Labor Law § 240(1). This law holds the defendants completely responsible for not giving the plaintiff the necessary safety equipment or help required by the law to carry out his work safely. The court rejected the defendants’ arguments that the ladder was “properly placed” and that the plaintiff’s actions were the only reason for the accident. The case was set to proceed to a damages trial only, with the defendants having filed an appeal but not yet perfecting the appeal.
A workplace injury can change someone’s life forever. Serious workplace injuries due to improper construction or office place safety protections and defective equipment are a tragic reality in many occupations. These workplace accident injuries often leave people unable to support themselves and their families without a living wage, and as we see in this painter’s situation, the long-term effects can be devastating.
The nationally recognized personal injury attorneys at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with workplace injury compensation and representing those who have been injured in accidents on the job by negligence. We have successfully represented people with complex cases who have been seriously hurt in falls, injured by defective products or poorly maintained equipment, suffered severe injuries resulting in disability, and other types of workplace accidents affecting wages.
If you have been injured on the job or workplace and need to talk to a workplace accident lawyer in New York, contact Belluck & Fox today. We will review your workplace accident claim immediately, at no cost or fee to you, and go over all of your options for pursuing just compensation or lawsuit for your injuries.
Belluck & Fox Wins Person Injury Settlement for a Heroic Veteran
In a resounding victory for justice, Harris Marks and our dedicated personal injury team achieved a monumental settlement, securing a compensation of $950,000 for Mr. Sim, a valiant 71-year-old veteran of the US Army. The case is a testament to our commitment to seeking rightful compensation for victims of negligence.
On Thanksgiving night, Mr. Sim, a proud US Army veteran, found himself amid a life-altering event. While crossing a crosswalk, he was struck by a reckless drunk driver who callously fled the scene, leaving Mr. Sim injured and needing immediate help. The incident occurred just as Mr. Sim left his Pastor’s home after sharing a Thanksgiving dinner.
His injuries were staggering, including compound fractures of his right tibia and fibula, necessitating multiple intricate surgical interventions involving Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF). Additionally, Mr. Sim suffered a fractured left leg, a traumatic brain injury, and multiple rib fractures.
This case demanded unwavering dedication and meticulous legal maneuvers. Our team left no stone unturned, conducting multiple depositions to build a comprehensive and compelling case. A pivotal moment arose when a deposition was taken at an upstate prison where the driver responsible for the accident was located.
The insurance policy in question had a coverage limit of $1 million. Through relentless effort and legal acumen, we achieved a momentous victory by securing a settlement of $950,000, nearly the full extent of the policy. The resolution of this case is a testament to the perseverance of Mr. Sim, the dedication of our personal injury team, and the pursuit of justice that underpins our legal practice.
If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury accident, you don’t have to go it alone. At Belluck & Fox, our award-winning personal injury lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the compensation you need to get your life back in order after an accident. Reach out today for a free consultation.
Celebrating Community on Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2019
You might often hear people refer to the small mesothelioma “community” and the support they offer each other. Being a rare disease that affects people of all ages, cultures, and socioeconomic status, the mesothelioma community is a diverse group. They range from the people that are working on the major cause of malignant mesothelioma, banning asbestos, researching and spreading awareness of this rare cancer, and of course, those who have been diagnosed with it.
A definition that reflects what a community is from www.dictionary.com;
- Self-organized network of people with common agenda, cause, or interest, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information, and other resources. Virtual communities consist of participants in online discussions on topics of mutual concern, or of those who frequent certain websites.
- Cluster of common interests that arise from association.
The mesothelioma community is a self organized network of people. They or their loved ones have been affected by malignant mesothelioma, or are medical and legal professionals that are dedicated to helping research for a cure, taking care of patients, and advocating for them and their families.
Thursday, September 26, is Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2019. Awareness days are used to bring attention to diseases and how important research is towards a cure. Mesothelioma Awareness Day was started in 2004 by the Meso Foundation. Under the direction of the Foundation, now the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the community is encouraged to wear blue, and raise awareness of malignant mesothelioma, by educating people about this rare disease.
Another group trying to raise awareness to ban asbestos in the United States is the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. ADAO, founded in 2004, gives asbestos victims a united voice to raise awareness of the continued danger of asbestos exposure. ADAO is actively working to pass legislation to ban asbestos in the United States, a fact most people do not know.
There are other resources available to help support mesothelioma victims and their families, reach out, get involved if you can.
We strongly encourage everyone to spread the word, support the mesothelioma community in whatever way you can!