Mesothelioma Lawsuit Blog

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Craig Whitney — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:42:44 -0600

Here are some of the mesothelioma and asbestos news stories that we are currently following:

Firefighters reach settlement with city in asbestos lawsuit (January 20, 2012): A group of Washington firefighters have reached an agreement with the city of Everett after filing a $9 million asbestos lawsuit. Under the agreement, the city will pay for any medical tests the firefighters could require as a result of asbestos exposure that may have occurred during a training program run by the city.

Shipyard worker wins Washington mesothelioma lawsuit (January 19, 2012): A Washington ship worker has won his mesothelioma lawsuit against his former employer. Roger Hammet was awarded $1.45 million after a jury found that Sea-Land Service Inc. was responsible for the mesothelioma diagnosis Hammet received after working on the company’s ship.

New York woman files asbestos lawsuit after husband’s death (January 14, 2012): A New York woman has filed an asbestos lawsuit against her husband’s former employers after he died from lung cancer. Carolina Malone alleges in her lawsuit that Alcoa Inc. exposed her husband to asbestos while he worked for the company, which caused him to develop cancer.

Environmental agency files asbestos lawsuit against contractor (January 11, 2012): The U.S. Department of Environment Protection (DEP) has filed an asbestos lawsuit against a Pennsylvania contractor. The lawsuit alleges that Lovett Contracting improperly removed nearly 3,000 feet of asbestos insulation from a commercial building and failed to properly dispose of the materials.

Actor Steve McQueen to be honored by asbestos awareness group

Ed Smith — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:44:22 -0600

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has announced that it will honor the life of actor Steve McQueen with its Warren Zevon “Keep Me In Your Heart” Memorial Tribute Award. McQueen died in 1980 from mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.

Accepting the award on her late husband’s behalf, Barbara McQueen expressed her gratitude to the ADAO for their work in spreading awareness of the health risks of asbestos:

Steve’s death was a long and painful ordeal and my heart goes out to those who have been exposed to asbestos as well as their loved ones. We’re all in the same family and I commend ADAO for the great work they do on behalf of asbestos awareness.

After studying acting on a scholarship earned through the G.I. Bill, McQueen rose to fame in the late 50s through his role on the TV show “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” Roles in film classics such as “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Great Escape” and “Bullitt” soon followed, eventually turning McQueen into the highest paid actor in Hollywood.

A noted auto enthusiast, McQueen was exposed to asbestos from the protective suits that he wore during races, as well as from asbestos on movie sound stages. However, the actor stated in interviews that his disease was likely the result of his service in the Marines, during which time he removed asbestos insulation from pipes that were found onboard troop ships.

McQueen was one of the first celebrities to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure that can affect the lining of the heart, lungs or abdomen. Other celebrities who have died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure include NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen and singer Warren Zevon, the namesake of the award given to McQueen.

Despite the tragedy of his death, McQueen’s celebrity help bring widespread attention to mesothelioma and the health risks of asbestos exposure for the first time. His courageous fight against mesothelioma cancer and the legacy of his career are an inspiration to the thousands of asbestos victims worldwide who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Craig Whitney — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:04:59 -0600

Tough choice looms for people suing over 9/11 health claims: to apply for gov’t aid or not (December 25, 2011): More than 1,600 people who filed lawsuits claiming that their health was ruined by dust and smoke from the collapsed World Trade Center must decide by Jan. 2 whether to keep fighting in court, or drop the litigation and apply for benefits from a government compensation fund. Although the fund would cover ailments such as asthma, scarred lungs and other respiratory system problems, patients who develop mesothelioma or other forms of cancer are not eligible for compensation.
Asbestos victim awarded $2M in mesothelioma lawsuit (December 21, 2011): A New York man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2010 was awarded $2 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit filed against his former employer. Gerald Failing received the verdict after a jury found a materials company for responsible for exposing him to cancerous asbestos fibers.
Settlement reached in Missouri mesothelioma lawsuit (December 15, 2011): A mesothelioma lawsuit filed against U.S. Engineering Co. in Missouri has been settled for $10 million. Nancy Lopez filed the lawsuit alleging that the company failed to follow proper procedures in removing asbestos from the courthouse where she worked.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Craig Whitney — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:36:40 -0600

Former worker alleges asbestos safety violations by companies (November 22, 2011): A Montgomery College student has alleged that asbestos safety violations were commtted by several asbestos abatement companies where he worked. Ernest Ojito alleges six companies throughout Marlyand, Washington D.C. and Virginia put workers at risk by exposing them to asbestos while ignoring federal safety requirements.
British university fined for alleged asbestos exposure (November 17, 2011): The University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom has been fined for failing to take adequate steps to remove asbestos from four of its buildings. The British Health Service Executive fined the university more than £22,000 after it was discovered that officials at the university took four years before ordering asbestos removal from the buildings.
Asbestos victim awarded $2M in mesothelioma lawsuit (November 8, 2011): An Australian man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma was awarded more than $2 million in his asbestos lawsuit. The Australian Supreme Court awarded Simon Lowes the sum after he alleged that he was exposed to asbestos as a young child at an orphanage.
High rates of mesothelioma found among Iron Range workers (November 3, 2011): An ongoing study has found 82 deaths from mesothelioma in the Iron Range of Minnesota, up from the 63 previously reported in 2010. Lead researchers for the study have found the mesothelioma rate is considerably higher than it should be for the region.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Craig Whitney — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:06:09 -0600

Here are some of the mesothelioma and asbestos stories that we are currently following:

Colorado man files mesothelioma lawsuit (October 25, 2011): A Colorado man has filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against companies he alleges are responsible for asbestos exposure that occurred during his work as a laborer and electrician.
Colorado landlord on trial for exposing workers to asbestos (October 18, 2011): A Colorado landlord is on trial for allegedly exposing workers to asbestos on the job without their knowledge.
British company pledges free asbestos awareness training (October 13, 2011): British company Expedient Training Services has pledged to provide free training to educate employers about the dangers of occupational asbestos exposure.
Inhalants may ease mesothelioma cancer treatment (October 12, 2011): Scottish researches have found that administering cancer drugs via inhalants to treat mesothelioma and other forms of the disease may reduce harmful side effects of treatment.
Concerns rise over cancer-causing mineral (October 7, 2011): A fibrous mineral, known as erionite, that is prevalent in western states such as North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and California has been linked to cases of mesothelioma.

Patients with gene mutation may face increased mesothelioma risk

Andrew McEnaney — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:11:23 -0600

Researchers have uncovered evidence that patients with a specific genetic mutation may face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and some other forms of cancer. The study by scientists at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia was published in the August 2011 issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

The researchers found that individuals who carry a mutation of the BAP1 gene are more likely to develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos than individuals without the mutation. The study also found that individuals with the BAP1 mutation may be more likely to develop melanoma of the eye, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer or renal cancer.

The co-leader of the study, Dr. Joseph Testa of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, said that the new research was a breakthrough in understanding the factors that may increase the risk of developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure:

This is the first study to demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma. People exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos or erionite, those with a strong family history of mesothelioma, or those who have been previously diagnosed with a rare tumor of the eye known as uveal melanoma, may benefit from this new discovery.

Testa said that the findings from the study could lead to new drugs to treat patients with mesothelioma and enable earlier detecting of the disease in patients who are exposed to asbestos. Patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma during the early stages of the disease live an average of five times longer than those whose cancer is detected in the late stages, Testa said.

While genetic mutations might play a factor in an individual’s risk of developing mesothelioma, their role is small compared to the health hazards posed by asbestos exposure in the workplace or other locations. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. While new drugs and other treatments are important to helping patients who are already afflicted with the disease, it is important to remember that the risk of workers developing mesothelioma would have been significantly lower were it not for the decades in which asbestos products were still sold by manufacturers who knew the health risks posed by their wares.

Sept. 11 workers face lasting health risks from Ground Zero toxic dust

Ed Smith — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:09:24 -0600

Emergency workers and other personnel who were present at the site of the 9/11 attacks may be at risk of developing mesothelioma or other diseases from the toxic dust that was spread by the attacks. Ten years after the attacks, Ground Zero workers have already begun to show signs of respiratory diseases and other illnesses that may worsen into cancer or other conditions as time goes on.

According to a study conducted by scientists at Rutgers University (PDF), the dust that was spread after 9/11 contained a number of hazardous substances, including asbestos, gypsum, glass fibers, lead and other metal particles. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma—a deadly cancer of the chest or abdomen—and many other cancers or respiratory diseases. Gypsum—which is found in drywall—has been linked to respiratory problems, while lead and other metals can be toxic to the brain.

Because of the high amount of cement spread by the World Trade Center attacks, the pH in the dust spread on 9/11 had an extremely high pH, meaning it was highly alkaline. “That means it’s extremely caustic and would be like inhaling powdered lye or Drano,” said health expert Dr. Philip Landrigan of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Studies to examine the health of workers who were at Ground Zero in the wake of the 9/11 attacks have found increased risks of a number of respiratory and other diseases. According to a 2009 study conducted at Mount Sinai, 9/11 workers are twice as likely to suffer from asthma as the general population. Residents of lower Manhattan—where the World Trade Center was located—have also reported an increased asthma risk.

Health experts say that 9/11 responders have also been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the “World Trade Center cough” due to the redness, irritation and swelling caused by the dust from the Twin Towers. Over time, these symptoms can worsen, leading to scar tissue or chronic lung diseases.

A study of firefighters who worked at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks found that they were 19% more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer than firefighters who were not present at Ground Zero. However, because mesothelioma and other cancers are not covered under the bill, individuals develop these diseases as a result of exposure to the toxic dust from the World Trade Centers will not be able to receive financial aide for their illnesses.

Although the recent bill to cover 9/11 workers (PDF) will provide much needed health care and financial compensation to these individuals, the lack of coverage for victims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers caused by exposure at Ground Zero neglects thousands of individuals who answered the call for America in its greatest hour of need.

Mesothelioma documentary examines asbestos industry

Craig Whitney — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:55:10 -0600

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has announced that it will be livestreaming the documentary "Breathtaking" on September 26th. The film examines the death of the father of Ontario fimmaker Kathleen Mullen, who directed the movie, and explores issues surrounding the continued use and mining of asbestos, despite its known health risks.

Join the free online screening and live discussion of "Breathtaking" by Kathleen Mullen on September 26 at 6:30 pm EST or watch the trailer for the film below.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Craig Whitney — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:23:37 -0600

Here are some of the mesothelioma and asbestos stories that we are currently following:

Insurers face increase in asbestos claims over 2011 (August 26, 2011): Mesothelioma and asbestos-related claims against the insurance company MetLife rose by 11% over the first half of 2011, according to a report by Reuters.
Warren Buffett agree to take on AIG asbestos risks for $1.65B payment (August 24, 2011): Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway agreed to assume the asbestos liability of American International Group in exchange for a payment of $1.65 billion.
Mesothelioma deaths on the rise in EnglandMesothelioma deaths on the rise in England

Mesothelioma deaths on the rise in England (August 19, 2011): Deaths from mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers have increased four-fold since the 1980s, a report by the BBC has revealed.

Mesothelioma lawsuits numbers continue to rise in U.S.

Andrew McEnaney — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:16:07 -0600

According to a new report published by Reuters news service, the number of mesothelioma lawsuits filed in the U.S. has continued to rise in recent years. According to one estimate, the total liability for the asbestos industry could eventually stretch to $75 billion in damages and settlements to victims of asbestos-related diseases.

Although some have reported that the number of new cases of malignant mesothelioma have fallen in recent years, projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics show the number of deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis continuing to rise through at least 2016.

While asbestos use in the U.S. has fallen sharply since the 1970s, new cases of asbestos exposure continue to occur as a result of old building materials containing asbestos, as well as other sources. Hundreds of workers at Ground Zero in New York City were exposed to asbestos at as much as one million times the normal level as a result of materials that were scattered during the 9/11 attacks.

As a result of the rising number of mesothelioma lawsuits, many insurers and other companies who could be held liable for causing mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases have increased their financial reserves. Recently, American International Group announced that it was adding $1 billion to its reserves over its potential asbestos liability.

Although the asbestos industry continues to blame plaintiffs lawyers for the asbestos lawsuits filed against them, these cases are the result of decades of attempts to hide the truth about the hazards of asbestos exposure by the companies who made these products and their insurers. Insurance companies such as MetLife have been accused for decades of trying to hide information about the link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

While insurers and asbestos makers would prefer to blame the victims in these cases, their right to fair compensation is one of the few remaining recourses they have after being permanently harmed by the actions of these corporations.