phoneCall Now for a Free Case Evaluation - 800-611-7080

Yes, We Spread Asbestos Awareness with the Help of a Law Firm, and We’re Proud of It

At a dinner party the other night, I was asked about what I did for work. I replied, “I’m in asbestos awareness and advocacy.”

Blank stare.

“We’re trying to get the word out about the dangers of asbestos. Most people don’t realize how dangerous it is, and that it’s not a banned substance in the United States. We’re trying to change that.”

“What is asbestos anyway? Isn’t it an old chemical they used to make in the 1950s?”

This person, a well-educated woman in her 40s, is like the majority of people we here at Ban Asbestos Now meet. Folks who have a vague idea that asbestos is somehow “bad,” but really have no clue what it is (a naturally occurring mineral), how widespread its use was (and still is), and how inhaling it can lead to severely debilitating and fatal illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

And even if they are aware of asbestos and its dangers, most do not realize that it is not currently a banned substance in the US, as it is in almost 60 other nations, including those of the European Union. And they are probably also not aware that despite diminished use here in the US, asbestos continues to kill more than 10,000 people a year in the US alone.

We want to change that. And we are, but we need help to do it.

Ban Asbestos Now researches and develops content to educate and inform about asbestos awareness, has been running a letter writing campaign that allows readers to send a letter to their Congressperson urging them to ban asbestos, and continually supports grassroots efforts that raise funds for mesothelioma research, such as the Miles for Meso 8k road race.

We could probably not do this if we were not backed by the American Law Partners.

You see, asbestos law firms have stepped in to fight for the victims of asbestos cancer when the U.S. government has been unable or unwilling to do so. As difficult as it is to believe, the government is beholden to corporate America. And the corporations that dealt in asbestos, and profited mightily from it, were some of the richest and most powerful in the world.

Civil justice law firms like American Law Partners are not beholden to corporations. They are only answerable to the individuals who hire them.  So when a pipefitter who has lost his lung capacity and possibly his life to the negligence of a company that makes billions in profits each year, who is going to help him fight?

Asbestos law firms are not the only organizations fighting for this cause. Asbestos advocacy groups such as ADAO and MARF are making significant contributions to the gain traction in Congress towards a definitive and lasting ban on asbestos, as well as educate the public on the dangers of asbestos and raise funding for mesothelioma treatments.

While some people might be predisposed to think that all law firms are greedy and selfish (an assumption that’s not true!) we believe that the only way to make real and lasting changes in the asbestos landscape is to have all voices join together and make a difference. The louder we are, the more they will listen.

Films Hope to Raise Asbestos, Mesothelioma Lawsuit Awareness

One of the more heartbreaking aspects of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer is that, despite the devastation that the diseases take on the families they effect, the public is largely not aware of the illnesses and the toll they take.

Thankfully, a pair of new films are attempting to raise awareness regarding the dangers of the asbestos industry and the legal options that individuals have to punish the companies that have harmed them.  The films are already gaining a great deal of attention across the country.

 In an attempt to raise awareness regarding the horrors of asbestos, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) announced last month that it would be hosting an international livestreaming of the film Breathless on its website on September 26 at 6:30 pm EST. The film, which was directed by Canadian filmmaker Kathleen Mullen, details the death of Mullens’ father that was caused by asbestos exposure in Canadian mines while also addressing the controversy surrounding the Canadian asbestos industry.

“ADAO is thrilled to be able to bring this critical issue to the forefront through the incredible film, Breathtaking. It is through the new avenues of digital technology and social media that we are seeing awareness about asbestos hazards expand rapidly around the globe,” said ADAO Co-Founder Linda Reinstein.

The film will precede a fifteen-minute question and answer session via Twitter with Mullen and Reinstein.

Another film, Hot Coffee, recently premiered on HBO as part of the network’s Summer Documentary Series. The movie looks at American civil justice and tells the story of Stella Liebeck, an elderly woman who sued McDonald’s for money to cover medical costs after the restaurant’s coffee severely burned her. Despite the uproar over the product liability lawsuit filed by Lieback, the film supports the legal action she took.

Many mesothelioma support groups have come out in support of the film, asmesothelioma lawsuits are similar in many ways to the case filed by Liebeck and have come under fire in recent years as well.

Hopefully Breathtaking and Hot Coffee will both help to increase the public’s awareness regarding asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos by using certain products or working for certain companies and have subsequently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there may be legal options worth pursuing to obtain a mesothelioma settlement. Contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement from the manufacturer of the asbestos product.

Low Income Projects and Training Results from EPA Funded Grants

 Low Income Projects and Training Results from EPA Funded Grants

(Courtesy Photo)

July 14, 2011

 

On July 12, Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, announced that the Environmental Protection Agency would be helping not only stimulate the employment rate, but also help provide a clear imagine to underprivileged neighborhoods of green, environmentally friendly ones, by giving $6.2 million in Atlanta.

 

Asbestos is still a presently known substance that lies within many of these worn, run-down buildings in the Atlanta areas that the public needs to be informed about, as well as educated in what manner to handle the substance, which many companies today are paying quite the salary for those experience, and certified in the handling of such substances.

 

Jackson reported that with the President stating throughout his term in office so far that it was a top priority not only for the United State as whole to turn over a new leaf, on environmental friendly products, but the world itself, caused the Environmental Protection Agency to take a true look around what was happening in their “neck of the woods”. With jobs so hard to find, and experience needed what better way to help, and get the ball rolling with the “Green Movement” than rather to bring worth certification and other programs aimed towards adding more skilled technicians that deal with asbestos and lead on a daily basis.

 

Jackson also stated that people should not have to decide between whether to use clean water one day and clean air the next, it should be an implied requirement of society to work towards the betterment of it as a whole, so that future generations will expect the same standards and build from them.

 

The national grant recipients of 2011 was won by a local Atlanta group, which gave them $300,000 in order to help go throughout their community and find strategies in order to start somewhere small, in order to make Atlanta overall one day, possibly a green, eco-friendly city.

 

Multiple projects are currently in the works in Atlanta including community parks, possible greener forms of transportation by the recycling of those in the past, and some present; and also helping communities see the importance of picking up and recycling. Asbestos that was once wildly recorded in underprivileged neighborhoods in Atlanta, that resulted in many catching and being diagnosed with asbestos cancer can now possibly be put to rest if the cycle that Atlanta is on continues and grows.

 

How Are Mesothelioma Clinical Trials Organized?

When looking at various mesothelioma clinical trials that are available, it is important to look at the different sizes and groupings that a study can be a part of in order to understand them better.

Clinical studies can vary in size and scope when it comes to how many different institutions are in the process. A trial study that is only open at only one particular institution is commonly referred to as a single institution study, while one that incorporates a number of institutions is called either a regional, national, or international study.

National and international study protocols may be part of a cooperative group – a national consortium of institutions that investigates diagnosis, treatment and/or monitoring of disease.

Cooperative groups in the United States often receive federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). International or national studies can sometimes combine to form an intergroup study.

Some examples of cooperative groups that focus on cancer patients include:

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
  • Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
  • Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
  • Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
  • American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
  • North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)
  • European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)

In the United States, cooperative group study protocols are reviewed and approved at the federal level by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) before any institution has the opportunity to review and open the study protocol. Protocols that are approved by CTEP then become available for the institutional members (that wish to participate in the study) of the cooperative group(s) that submitted the protocol to CTEP.

Some studies (including some cooperative group studies) may be fully or partially sponsored by drug companies. Drug companies may sponsor studies that are open at a single or multiple institutions.

Other studies may be independently funded. The National Cancer Institute (NCI- a branch of the NIH) studies are available to any U.S. citizen who is eligible for that study; generally all treatments and diagnostic testing that are part of the study protocol are funded by the NCI, and only available at the NCI campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Single institution studies generally plan to enroll 25-75 patients (though NCI protocols often plan to enroll >100 patients). A clinical study may only be available at select institution(s). Thus, informing your doctor of this study will not necessarily allow him or her to enroll you on the study if he or she is not part of that institution(s).

There are many reasons for this:

  • The study must go through the Institutional Review Board of every participating hospital or cancer center, and cannot be ethically offered at an institution which has not reviewed the protocol.
  • An infrastructure must also be in place to deliver protocol treatment. While any hospital or cancer center can open studies, some studies require pharmacists trained in how to handle certain drugs, nurses trained in administering certain drugs, nurses, doctors and research specialists trained at administering diagnostic testing or assessments and data managers.

If a study is of particular interest to you, your oncology team may be able to determine if you are eligible, and then may be able to facilitate you being assessed and possibly treated at the institution(s) offering the study.

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or former employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

Is a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Right for You?

While mesothelioma is not a curable disease, there are many options that patients can take to effectively treat their illness so they can live as comfortable a life as possible. In addition to many established forms of treatment that one can undergo, some patients may want to pursue more experimental treatments in the form of clinical trials.

Clinical trials are used to test and develop new therapies and procedures to treat, screen, prevent, and/or cure a disease. Trials occur before a therapy or treatment has been fully approved for standard use within a field as a way to determine whether or not it is safe and effective.

There are three stages to clinical trials, with each stage representing a different phase of the study:

  • Phase I determines the safety of the drug and maximally tolerated doses.
  • Phase II is then used to determine the efficacy of the drug based on the dosage found in Phase I.
  • Phase III is then used to compare the new treatment with other treatments already in use within the medical community. Phase III studies usually involve a very large number of patients from all across the country. Some Phase III clinical trials consist of a standard treatment rather than a new experimental treatment being studied. Placebo medications are rarely given in cancer trials.

In order for a patient to be selected for a clinical trial, their condition must meet very specific criteria that are chosen based on the needs of the study being done. For clinical trials regarding mesothelioma, patients must often be in a certain age range and have a specific type of mesothelioma that is in a certain stage. You will need to meet all requirements in order to become a participant.

The effectiveness of any type of clinical trial may vary from person to person, and may sometimes not help at all. This is because the purpose of these trials is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an unproven mesothelioma treatment, procedure or drug. If one drug has a proven safety record, it is often tested against another proven drug to determine if one is better than the other.

With this in mind, it should be noted that no clinical study has any guarantee of long-term benefits, and can sometimes cause negative side effects that have not yet been documented. Trials may also not always be a covered benefit of your healthcare insurance. Be sure to look into all the financial aspects and consider the risks before deciding on participation in any study.

With that in mind, the positive potential benefits of a clinical study can sometimes outweigh the negative ones. Patients in some clinical studies receive medication, procedures or treatments that are not yet available to all patients but are thought to have the potential of a positive outcome. This can be especially beneficial to those with higher stage cancers and limited medical options.

Clinical trials are often performed at leading healthcare facilities, which can be an additional benefit. These facilities tend to be on top of the most beneficial treatments and have top doctors knowledgeable in the latest research. There are also many other great resources out there that can assist you in gathering information and helping in the decision making process, including your doctor and many online resources that list all current available clinical trials and the eligibility criteria.

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or former employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

Mesothelioma Case in Tennessee Improperly Awarded No Settlement due to Incorrect Use of Doctrine

A Tennessee Supreme Court Ruling has found that a trial judgment was incorrect when it awarded no money to man who passed away form mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure that was caused by a former employer.

Hugh Todd Nye passed away in 2006 from mesothelioma that doctors – and the Tennessee jury of the asbestos lawsuit that followed – felt was likely caused by his years of work at a DuPont facility that used a number of products that contain.

However, during the trial the use of an intermediary doctrine designed to protect companies from being held liable for products they are not responsible for was also utilized. As a result, the court found that North Brothers – the company that sold the asbestos products in question – was subject to a strict liability suit regarding Nye’s diagnosis, not DuPont.

With discrepancy between the companies that were deemed liable for the diagnosis and responsible for payment regarding damages, Nye’s widow ended up receiving no monetary award for her husband’s death.

Following the case, the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Supreme Court stepped in. Both entities ruled that the intermediary doctrine had been improperly invoked and was “not applicable under the circumstances of [the] case.”

“It was proper for the jury to consider the actions of DuPont in determining whether DuPont was the cause in fact of Mr. Nye’s injuries,” read the court’s opinion, which was authored by Justice Sharon Lee. “However, it does not follow that it was also proper to instruct the jury that if DuPont was aware of any dangers in connection with the use of the products it purchased from North Brothers, North Brothers could not be held liable for failure to warn.”

For those receiving mesothelioma treatment who have previously worked in a profession where you were regularly exposed to high amounts of asbestos, there may be reason to speak with a Tennessee mesothelioma attorney regarding a possible lawsuit. Contact us for a free consultation to see if a Tennessee mesothelioma law firm can help to get you a monetary asbestos settlement from a former employer who may be at fault for an asbestos-related illness.

Asbestos Lawsuits and Lung Cancer Patients

Did you know that even if you smoked, your lung cancer may be due to something outside of your control?

If you ever worked with or around asbestos, then your lung cancer may have been caused or exacerbated by the exposure - even if you smoke or once smoked. And if your asbestos exposure can be linked to your lung cancer, you may be entitled to a significant financial settlement.

It’s been proven that many companies that manufactured asbestos products knew very early on that asbestos exposure was harming and killing their workers, but did nothing to warn or protect them from harm. “Failure to warn” now forms the basis of most asbestos litigation.

Asbestos lawsuits cost you nothing – asbestos attorneys only receive a fee if they win the case on your behalf, awarding you the compensation you need and deserve.

What to expect when you file a lung cancer lawsuit
The process of filing asbestos lawsuits is straightforward.

1.      After you contact us and the determination has been made that you might have a valid claim, your asbestos attorneys will work with you to gather the details of your case. The next step is filing a complaint and prosecuting your case.

2.      Most often cases are resolved prior to going to trial, but if such a settlement cannot be reached, your case will be moved into the trial phase. In a trial, both sides will have an opportunity to present their cases, and a jury will decide on the outcome.

3.      It’s important for victims to act quickly, because different states have different time limits on when claims may be filed.

This process is based on a contingency fee – meaning there is absolutely no cost to you at any point in the process.This allows anyone, without regard to income or social standing, the ability to get justice for their injuries.

What kind of settlement can you expect from a lung cancer lawsuit?

While every asbestos lung cancer lawsuit is different, settlements for asbestos lung cancer typically average about $100,000.

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Risk Following Tornadoes

Only days after the devastating tornadoes in Missouri sparked fears of asbestos exposure amid debris and rubble, Western Massachusetts is now dealing with a similar situation after being hit by a series of deadly tornadoes last week as well.

Prior to the implementation of restrictions that limited how and when asbestos could be used during the 1980s, the fiber was included in thousands of vinyl flooring, insulation, roofing, mastics, and plaster building/construction products.

With this in mind, residents in Massachusetts towns such as Springfield that contain many older houses and were affected by the deadly tornadoes are worried that rubble surrounding them may contain exposed asbestos products.

Springfield Department of Public Works Director Jack Dowd told a local news station that residents should be careful debris they come across during the recovery process. Residents also should rely on hazardous waste experts and disposal areas to make sure any potentially dangerous materials are removed safely.

In order to reduce the risk of asbestos particles being released into the air, residents should either wet down debris before it is handled or move it into leak-proof containers. Consulting with asbestos abatement experts is also recommended.

Companies that make products that expose individuals high amounts of asbestos fibers – despite the company’s knowledge that doing so was a health hazard – may be held legally liable for any mesothelioma diagnosis that results. If you feel the manufacturer of an asbestos product is at fault for your diagnosis, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn more about possibly receiving an asbestos settlement that may be able to provide financial security for your family.

History of Asbestos

 

(May 21, 2011)

History of Asbestos

(courtesy photo)

History experts have reported that asbestos
has been used to make many products for over 4,500 years and Greece is the location where the first known asbestos mine was established on the island of Ewoia. Its name means ‘inextinguishable’ and was labeled as such by the ancient Greeks, who also learned of its harmful and dangerous effects on the human body. The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, and the Greek geographer, Strabo, both realized all the slaves who worked in the asbestos mines or wove it into cloth seemed to suffer from an illness of the lungs due to asbestos exposure. Because Strabo and Pliny were so mesmerized and intrigued by asbestos and believed it contained magical properties, all of the symptoms that had been observed were ignored.

Asbestos was used by the Greeks to make a wide variety of items, such as wicks for candles, napkins, clothing and funeral dressings used for the cremation of deceased kings. It has been discovered that building materials, textiles and women’s clothing were made with asbestos during the period of the Holy Roman Empire. Asbestos cloths were used by the Egyptians to wrap their dead and other ancient civilizations used it to make protective suits of armor for battle. During the Middle Ages, the usage of asbestos declined, but gradually began being used more again in the 1700s.

It was during the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s that asbestos was made popular again by a number of manufacturers and, from that time until the middle of the 1980s, it has been used in well over 3,000 different products. It has been estimated that during the 20th century, over 30 million tons of asbestos have been used in homes, schools, industrial and commercial buildings in the United States alone. It was established that asbestos and asbestos containing products cause asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. An asbestos law firm should be contacted if you or a loved one has suffered from asbestos exposure. An experienced lawyer can answer any questions you may have regarding your eligibility for an asbestos settlement.

The Harmful Results of Asbestos Exposure

 

(May 21, 2011)

The Harmful Results of Asbestos Exposure

(courtesy photo)

Unfortunately, over ten-thousand workers from a wide variety of industries all across the United States have been victims of
asbestos exposure and now are at a high risk of developing
asbestosis, asbestos cancer,
or mesothelioma. It has been estimated that in the United States alone 100,000 people have died from asbestos exposure. Companies have been aware of the probability of asbestos causing cancer since the 1930s, but never informed the public of its hazards or dangers and, as a result, numerous workers died and never knew their condition was due to earlier asbestos exposure.

The most common way to suffer from asbestos exposure is from breathing in the minerals super thin fibers. The asbestos fibers that are inhaled become lodged in the lungs and, combined with prolonged exposure, can cause asbestos-related illness. Diagnosing a person with asbestos-related illnesses is very challenging even with today’s most modern, sophisticated medical devices available because the signs or symptoms may not be noticeable for 10 to 40 or more years.

Asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma are the most common types of asbestos-related diseases affecting thousands and killing hundreds of people yearly. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous respiratory disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that have settled in the lungs which aggravate the lung tissue and causes scarring. Their capacity for oxygen diminishes over time from the scarring and may eventually cause cardiac failure. Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed yearly with mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that mainly develops in the thin membrane lining of the chest, lungs and abdomen. Asbestos lung cancer is the direct result from exposure to asbestos and develops in the lungs attacking the mucus lining of the trachea or bronchi and the air sacs. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any type of lung cancer caused from asbestos exposure, an asbestos attorney
should be contacted to see if you are entitled to an asbestos settlement.