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Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Studies have shown that asbestos particles in the air can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and lung disease asbestosis, and many former and all new uses of asbestos in the U.S. have been banned.

Asbestos Linked to Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma: True Stories and Interviews

Son Died from Lung Cancer: Exposed to Asbestos

"Monte was my older son; he was only 51 when he died last month from lung cancer," says Frances Majette. Monte was a mechanic in the navy and he worked on tanks in Kentucky and Fort Hood. "He was in the Navy for four years and at this time he worked on the fire control system and I believe this is where he was exposed to asbestos. He was a tank turret mechanic." [ MORE: ASBESTOS KILLS LUNG CANCER PATIENT ]

Asbestos Exposure: “None of us had a Clue”

Steve S. had a job back in the 1980s removing asbestos from a huge General Electric plant. Now, his chronic cough is getting so bad that his doctor wants Steve to have lung tests next week. What really worries Steve is that his uncle has been diagnosed with mesothelioma—a form of cancer that is directly linked to asbestos exposure-- and their symptoms are identical. [ MORE: ASBESTOS CHRONIC COUGH ]

Asbestos: No Early Warning Signs

"I don't believe my Dad had any warnings about asbestos," says Tom Casto. "I would say that at the exposure time, none of us knew any risks. It wasn't publicized like it is today. But Dad developed a spot on his lung and last September it grew. Then the doctors decided that he needed surgery." [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Asbestos: Why weren't they Told?

"I started getting sick about two years ago and I was really short of breath. I went to the doctor and he didn't know what it was. I saw four local doctors and still the same diagnosis - didn't know. Then they sent me to a specialist in Lethbridge and I saw him for over a year, but he didn't know. I had xrays, CAT scan, biopsies of all kinds, and a PET scan. [ READ MORE MESOTHELIOMA ]

Remembering a Hero: Les Skramstad

Skramstad died at his home in Libby, Montana, following a long battle with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related illness. Even as he struggled in his last weeks, he remained outspoken on behalf of his town, and all those affected by asbestos. [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Asbestos-related Illness Ignored by School District

For nine years Mark lived with asbestosis. Then, exactly nine years to the day of his diagnosis, Mark died. "I went to sleep at 1:00 AM, and he was still alive," Nancy says. "I woke up in the morning and he was already dead." [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Our Home an Asbestos Hazard Site

Angelica Frances and her family moved to Sedalia, Missouri and bought a home. Little did they know that soon after moving in, they would be forced to leave. The entire house was contaminated with asbestos. [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

More Asbestos Workers with Lung Cancer

Barry spent 15 years working for Griffin Wheel Company at a plant that made train wheels. When the plant was shut down in 1987, he was out of a job. By that point he had been exposed to enough asbestos to cause cancer. "There were a lot of chemicals there. They were in the smoke, too. We were breathing them in all the time. We didn't know it could hurt us." [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Asbestos: the Silent Killer

Nathan Starling, from Orlando, Florida has never smoked a day in his life. "What got me thinking about the asbestos was when the doctors saw me after my triple by-pass surgery and told the wife that I should quit smoking." For Nathan, there is no such thing as the golden years. "I think I've got copper instead." [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

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History of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer involving the mesothelium, a protective lining that encloses most of the body's internal organs. The only know cause of Mesothelioma seems to be exposure to asbestos particles in the air. The time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms can be as long as 20 to 50 years.

The European union has banned all uses of asbestos, as has Australia. Japan is expected to ban it soon. The US banned most uses and then the courts overturned the ban.

Asbestos is still used in numerous products in the US and Canada.

Although the links between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma has been known since the early 1900's, few regulations for exposure were implemented until the 70's. The first lawsuit was filed in 1929.

Mesothelioma Warnings

Early symptoms of Mesothelioma can include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, hoarseness, cough, fluid retention and abdominal swelling.

Because Mesothelioma affects the pleura, or the membranes that suround almost all of your internal organs, pain or swelling in the chest or the abdomen could be a symptom of Mesothelioma.

You are warned to contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers in the past you should make your doctor aware of that as well.

Mesothelioma: Health Threat

Asbestos can pose a serious health threat when disturbed or when it begins to deteriorate and asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. Exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to cancer, asbestosis (scaring of the lungs that restricts breathing), mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest cavity), and silicosis. The chances of getting an asbestos-related illness increase as the level and duration of exposure to asbestos increases.

asbestos mesothelioma

To date, companies which have exposed their employees to asbestos have faced thousands of lawsuits and settled hundreds of millions in damages. To resolve these ongoing battles, Congress is discussing the creation of a $140 billion fund to compensate victims of asbestos exposure.

If your home was built before 1970 or if you work in an industry that uses or has used asbestos, you may be at risk. Asbestos testing and removal should be performed by a professional. And if you or your family has suffered from asbestos exposure or poisoning, specialized lawyers and attorneys can evaluate your claim and help secure justice and compensation.

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Uses of Asbestos

At one time, asbestos was commonly used for insulation and fireproofing, in products such as pipe insulation, shingles, siding, flooring felt, rollboard, millboard, floor tiles, and textured paints. The EPA has banned several asbestos products and manufacturers of these products have halted production. Asbestos has also been used throughout the world Ã? Australia, Japan, and throughout Europe.

More than 27 million workers were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1980. Approximately 1.3 million construction workers still face significant exposure to asbestos during renovations, demolitions, and asbestos removal. Employees working in areas of manufacturing of asbestos such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials, are also likely to be exposed, as are employees working on automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Diseases and Injuries caused by Asbestos

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare lung cancer which attacks the lining of the lung (pleural mesothelioma) or the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). The only known cause of mesothelioma in North America is exposure to asbestos. There have also been reports linked to asbestos which include cancer of the esophagus, larynx, stomach, colon and rectum.

Like the other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma has a long latency period (amount of time between first exposure to asbestos and disease diagnosis). Typically, mesothelioma is diagnosed 20, 30, 40 or more years after the first exposure to asbestos. In rare cases the latency period has been as short as 10 to 15 years.

Pulmonary asbestosis is caused when asbestos particles are inhaled which can cause a scarring of the lung tissue. Similar to mesothelioma, the latency period is delayed 10 to 30 years. Symptoms of asbestosis can include shortness of breath or an inability to take a deep breath, fatigue, dry cough, rales or crackles at the base of the lungs. Other names for pulmonary asbestosis are pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, lung scarring, diffuse linear opacities (on x-ray) and pneumoconiosis.

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More about Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Medically Devastates Many Over Multiple Years

Mesothelioma presents itself often as a deadly after effect of asbestos exposure. Malignant Mesothelioma is infamous for being the "asbestos lung cancer." For many years Congress has tried to assist those suffering with this condition by making their lawsuits public knowledge. However, Congress has met with great opposition and has allegedly reached an impasse with trying to assist people afflicted with the illness. [ MORE: LEAVE ASBESTOS ALONE? ]

Asbestos: It may be Inside You

It's a death sentence in powdered form. We know that now. How society managed NOT to know about the deadly effects of asbestos exposure forty years ago when it was in widespread use in much of the world, is a debate for the gods. [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Style is not the Only Risk with Aged Flooring

There is a word of caution to owner's of older homes from the (DEQ) Department of Environmental Quality. Anyone living in an older home should have a sample of their flooring tested for the presence of asbestos. The inhalation of particles and dust from asbestos puts a person at risk for developing the deadly lung cancer, known as Mesothelioma. [MORE: ASBESTOS IN AGED FLOORING]

Asbestos in Iowa: Was the Equitable Building a Health Hazard?

Asbestos has been on the minds and in the headlines in Des Moines in the wake of a redevelopment of the historic Equitable Building. At issue is the alleged improper handling of asbestos, and a risk for asbestos mesothelioma cancer, during renovations. [MORE: ASBESTOS IN IOWA]

Asbestos Mesothelioma Victims Awarded Millions

Jurors in Baltimore have found defendants liable in two separate cases, in which exposure to asbestos-containing products caused the plaintiffs to develop mesothelioma. [MORE: ASBESTOS VICTIMS AWARDED MILLIONS]

Asbestos: The Migration of a Killer

Residents of this small town whose health was affected over years of exposure to asbestos particles from the former W.R.Grace vermiculite mine have been fast-tracked to receive a $400,000 settlement award via the Spector-Leahy Asbestos Bill. Virtually the entire town was negatively impacted by the fallout of asbestos production, with death rates many times above the national average. At its height of production, W.R. Grace was spewing 5,000 pounds of asbestos-laden ash into the air every single day--particulate that would drift, and settle for miles. [READ MORE ASBESTOS]

Mesothelioma from Asbestos: The Cost in Human Terms

Les Skramstad. Jack Davis. Bob Wheelis. Three names that have, or may soon, become statistics at the behest of asbestos. [Skramstad], as you may have read, lost his battle with asbestosis. Jack and Bob are sick with mesothelioma, and there are thousands like them. But more than simply names on a ledger, these names represent real people, with families and friends and responsibilities. [READ MORE ASBESTOS]

Asbestos: It may be Inside You

Asbestos Lawsuits keep Rolling On

"An increasing number of patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases are now younger than in previous reports," reads a May 9/2007 press release from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). "Case reports from the past three years reveal a new median age of 51." [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Asbestos Exposure only Known Link to Pleural Mesothelioma

Even though asbestos has been a dirty word for decades, and its use and prevalence has dramatically declined, the toxic substance is still making its presence felt, and is still at the root cause of serious health problems including pleural mesothelioma. In many cases it is claiming lives. [ READ MORE ASBESTOS ]

Asbestos Press Releases

NOV-07-07: A group of 16 workers from Cayuga County filed suit against their employer over allegations of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The suit alleges that day-to-day operations were allowed to continue in the Board of Elections Building while a boiler was being replaced in the basement, in February of last year. [ READ MORE]

SEP-20-07: A 56-year-old retired union insulator was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in July 2006. He had been exposed to asbestos during his working career in shipyards, industrial plants, factories and paper mills in Washington State. His mesothelioma lawsuit was filed September 2006 and resolved in June 2007. The settlements exceeded $4.6 million. [ READ MORE ]

SEP-12-07: Although it was once commonly used for insulating buildings and machinery, the use of asbestos has declined sharply over the last several decades as people became more aware of the serious health consequences associated with asbestos exposure. [ READ MORE ]

JUL-31-07: Exposure to asbestos and, specifically, the onset of exposure-related diseases such as malignant mesothelioma will likely result in asbestos remaining in the courts for a very long time. [ READ MORE ]

JUL-12-07: Although many people may believe that asbestos was banned a long time ago, individuals are exposed to the toxic fibers because they are still used in industrial settings. [ READ MORE ]

JUN-15-07: For the last six years, Senator Murray has repeatedly introduced legislation to ban asbestos. Despite many efforts, the bill has not passed. [ READ MORE ]

JUN-05-07: The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has launched a powerful online video with detailed footage of asbestos dust and environmental hazards within the Capitol Hill tunnels where government crews are working. [ READ MORE ]

MAY-23-07: Faculty and staff at California State University were shocked when an article in the university newspaper revealed that asbestos has been detected in 21 of the campus's buildings. [ READ MORE ]

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Asbestos In the News

FEB-25-08: Five members of one First Nation family died from exposure to asbestos fibers in Zonolite insulation used in their homes. [SEATTLE PI: ASBESTOS]

FEB-21-08: The British Lung Foundation said a survey of 400 tradesmen showed that only one in eight (12.5%) knew that exposure to asbestos could be fatal. [PRESS ASSOCIATION: ASBESTOS]

FEB-7-08: Iowa safety inspectors have launched a probe into whether workers at the historic Equitable Building in downtown Des Moines were negligently exposed to cancer-causing asbestos. [REGISTER: ASBESTOS]

FEB-5-08: A new survey has concluded that about 300 construction workers in BC will die of asbestos-related diseases each year for the next five years. [VANCOUVER SUN: ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASE]

JAN-31-08: A 73-year-old man has been awarded $15.3 million after a jury determined that he developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos-containing products made by his former employer. [BALTIMORE SUN: ASBESTOS MESOTHELIOMA]

OCT-31-07: A group of 16 Cayuga County workers have filed a lawsuit accusing their employer of negligently exposing them to asbestos while on the job. The county illegally removed asbestos during a boiler replacement project and failed to remove the employees from their day-to-day workplace duties. [CITIZEN: ASBESTOS EXPOSURE]

OCT-29-07: A.O. Smith Corp. and 49 other companies are being sued by a former sandblaster alleging they manufactured and distributed products that may have led to his asbestos-related injury. The man already sued once for a non-cancerous disease and received a settlement. This suit is for a new malignant disease blamed on asbestos exposure. [RECORD: ASBESTOS DISEASE]

OCT-29-07: Dana Corp. has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve 7500 lawsuits claiming asbestos-related injuries from gaskets produced by the auto-parts supplier. [CHRONICLE: ASBESTOS]

OCT-24-07: Chevron USA is being sued by the widow of a former employee. The woman claims the oil company is responsible for exposing her husband to asbestos during his employment, which eventually led to his death from asbestosis. [RECORD: ASBESTOSIS]

OCT-22-07: An Illinois man diagnosed with mesothelioma is suing several corporations claiming they each exposed him to asbestos over the course of his careers. The man alleges that these companies should have known their products contained toxins which were harmful to people. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

AUG-15-07: A man suffering from mesothelioma filed a lawsuit against 92 defendants alleging his exposure to asbestos while working caused his disease. The plaintiff claims defendants knew or should have known about the effects of asbestos fibers. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

AUG-13-07: An asbestos lawsuit was filed against 39 companies alleging that a former pipefitter was exposed to asbestos while working and now suffers from mesothelioma. The plaintiff claims the companies were negligent by manufacturing, producing, and using products that contain asbestos. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

AUG-09-07: Four families have filed a joint asbestos lawsuit, alleging the plaintiffs were exposed to asbestos while employed by Vimasco Corporations. The plaintiffs claim they were not properly protected from asbestos and were not warned of the risks. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

AUG-08-07: The family of a man who died of lung cancer has filed an asbestos lawsuit against the man's former employers, alleging the asbestos exposure caused the man's death. The plaintiffs claim the defendants were negligent and failed to properly test their products that contained asbestos. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

AUG-01-07: Former tenants at an apartment that was found to have asbestos have filed lawsuits against the complex's owner. The tenants were forced to move out suddenly when the asbestos was found, in many cases leaving behind personal items. [FOX NEWS: ASBESTOS]

JUL-31-07: A bill to ban cancer-causing asbestos from common products passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by a 19-0 vote. The bill would also provide $50 million for research into the causes and treatments of asbestos-related cancers. [SEATTLE PI: ASBESTOS]

JUL-24-07: A man who worked at several refineries has filed a lawsuit against American Optical Corp. and 15 other companies, claiming exposure to asbestos resulted in a malignant asbestos-related disease. The suit was filed for loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

JUL-23-07: A man who claims he was exposed to asbestos while employed by shipyards, steel mills, refineries, and chemical plants has filed a lawsuit alleging the exposure has caused him injuries. The suit seeks compensation for loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, medical expenses, and lost wages. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

JUL-18-07: The family of a man who died of lung cancer filed a lawsuit against Chevron U.S.A. and Texaco for exposing the man to asbestos during his employment. The suit alleges the defendant knew about the risks of asbestos but failed to properly warn employees. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

JUL-16-07: The benefactor of a man who died from colon cancer filed a lawsuit against his employer alleging his exposure to asbestos caused his cancer. Asbestos has also been linked to mesothelioma. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

JUL-11-07: The family of a woman who frequently washed her fathers' clothing has filed a lawsuit claiming that doing so exposed her to asbestos. The woman died of mesothelioma. [RECORD: ASBESTOS]

JUN-20-07: Minnesota Department of Health regarding data from 37 mesothelioma deaths: "We wanted to address some of the concerns that have long surrounded the occurrence of this illness in northeastern Minnesota, not merely raise more unanswered questions." [ READ MORE ]

FEB-12-07: A new test to detect the presence of mesothelioma has been announced by Fujirebio Diagnostics. The findings represent a major milestone in the management of mesothelioma, as the test may enable doctors to more accurately monitor patients for treatment. [ READ MORE ]

MAY-16-06: An MP in the UK has vowed to speed up payents to Mesothelioma victims. No amount of money will ever compensate individuals and families for the suffering and loss caused by mesothelioma, but it is doubly important that the process for claiming compensation does not add to the distress experienced by individuals and their families. [ READ MORE ]

Asbestos Mesothelioma Legal Help

If you or a loved one is suffering from lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases caused by exposure to asbestos or asbestos containing products, you may qualify for damages or remedies that may be awarded in a possible class action lawsuit. Please click the link below to submit your complaint to an asbestos lawyer for a free case evaluation with no obligation.

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Johnson Law Group - Nick Johnson

The first priority of the attorneys and staff of the Johnson Law Group is serving each client's unique legal needs with the highest level of integrity and professional competence.

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