A noted doctor and his colleagues from the Collegium Ramazzini have thrown their support behind a global asbestos-usage ban in order to decrease the number of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer diagnoses around the world.

Along with other Fellows of the independent, international academy that is the home to 180 renowned experts in occupational and environmental health, Dr. Joseph LaDou recently stated that a worldwide ban on asbestos was needed in order to see a significant decline in diseases that have been linked to the fiber.

“All asbestos-related diseases are preventable if asbestos is banned globally,” he said, according to an article in Environmental Protection.

Currently 52 countries have banned asbestos usage within their borders. The United States is among the countries that have not yet enacted a ban on the fibers.

According to EP, there are still 2 million metric tons of asbestos produced every year and exposed to more than 125 million people who work at companies that deal with the substance on a regular basis. Still more likely interact with asbestos in their homes where the fibers were used during its construction as a fire retardant.

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.

A debate has been raging since June when Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) introduced Bill SB 624, which would strip the California state rock designation from serpentine, a rock that can contain naturally-occurring chrysotile asbestos.
Does serpentine, or more specifically the asbestos it contains, cause cancers such as mesothelioma as the bill’s sponsor argues? Or is serpentine a fascinating but misunderstood symbol for California’s unique landscape, with no ties to cancer, as the rock’s defenders argue? The debate is playing out across Twitter (where the discussion is tracked under the hashtag #CAserpentine) and in newspapers, blogs, and no doubt gem shows across the country.

No matter who wins the debate, there’s no denying that the story has brought a new level of awareness to asbestos exposure and the very real problem of mesothelioma. And it was a very real case of mesothelioma that started the ball rolling on Bill SB 624.

Alan Reinstein died in 2006 from mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos. Now his widow Linda wants to prevent more needless mesothelioma deaths by making people aware of the dangers of asbestos. Linda Reinstein founded the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) after her husband’s passing to help ban the use of asbestos and promote awareness. Sen. Romero sponsored the “symbolic” bill SB 624 as a way to continue to expand the debate. The bill is still being considered in the California legislature.

On June 9, three New York men, a father and two sons, were sentenced in a Syracuse federal court for violating asbestos environmental regulations. On October 28, 2009, the two brothers, Paul and Steven, received a guilty verdict for defrauding the United States, violating the Clean Air Act, and illegally dumping asbestos. Lester, the father, had previously entered a guilty plea before the start of the trial. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that releases tiny fibers that can be inhaled, and ultimately cause a number of adverse health effects including malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused solely by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 15-40 years to manifest and victims usually average around a year of life post-diagnosis.

Paul Mancuso, who had been previously convicted of similar asbestos crimes in 2003 and 2004, was running his asbestos abatement company out of his brother Steven’s law office.  This was in clear violation of the 2004 sentence that forbade him from any connection with the asbestos abatement field. The brothers, along with their father, presented false documents to both clients and the government to conceal their infractions concerning the disposal of asbestos. On several of the projects, asbestos was removed in violation of the EPA and OSHA guidelines and then dumped on the properties of unsuspecting owners in Portland, N.Y.

Paul Mancuso received 78 months in prison, 3 years probation and a $20,000 fine. Steven Mancuso was sentenced to 44 months in prison and 3 years probation. Lester Mancuso was sentenced to 36 months in prison and 3 years of probation.

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As far as state symbols go, California has chosen ones that reflect the rugged beauty of its wilderness, according to this article in SF Gate. But now some activists are calling into question why serpentine, a rock that can contain asbestos, is still the state rock in the state with the  highest mesothelioma death rate in the US, according to this story in KALW news.

Mesothelioma is a devastation cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos.

Although mesothelioma is relatively rare, asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis kill about 10,000 Americans each year. This makes the rock problematic according to mesothelioma widow and asbestos advocate Linda Reinstein. “This became more than a laughing matter,” said Reinstein. “This is really a health issue.”

Serpentine was chosen for the state rock in 1965, when asbestos was still considered the “miracle mineral” and the veins of asbestos-laden serpentine running through the California were considered a source of pride, not derision.

Mesothelioma attorneys

Mesothelioma and asbestos are both deadly illnesses that are caused primarily by prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos while working for a company and have developed a disease as a result, you may want to consider pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit that could potentially result in a substantial asbestos settlement. If you think that a mesothelioma attorney could help prove your illness was caused by a specific entity’s negligence, please contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

In an incredible story out of Merced, Calif., the District Attorney announced charges have been filed against three construction workers for deliberately exposing teens to asbestos at a local construction site five years ago.

The group of high school students signed up for a hands-on experience to learn more about construction. However, instead of the usual hammer-and-nail or measure-and-cut exercise, the students were told to work on removing asbestos from a building being renovated on the site of the former Castle Air Force Base in Merced.

It is unclear from the video whether students were told they would be handling asbestos, but it is likely they were not – as supervisors neglected to give warn them of the dangers of what they were doing and failed to provide protective gear for the students.

A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office said seven students have come forward, but more have been unknowingly exposed and need to be tracked down. Six more have called the office back since the story has gone public, yet more need to be found.

“It was a knowing and willing violation on all parts,” the spokesperson said.

She also acknowledged the motive of those responsible: to cut company costs, as proper asbestos removal can be costly and time consuming.

Unfortunately such cutting of corners is becoming all too common in a poor economy and a construction sector hurting even more. But what really is reprehensible is the knowing and willing exposure of innocents.

Three men have been found, taken into custody and charged in the matter. Bail has been set at $500,000.

The family of a former Miami construction firm owner has just received $14 million in compensatory and punitive damages from a mesothelioma settlement.  The Miami Dade jury concluded that William Aubin’s family should receive the sum from chemical manufacturer Union Carbide after Aubin passed away from mesothelioma cancer.  Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos.  The disease can take 15-40 years to appear and often starts in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).  Victims only average about 1 year of life post-diagnosis.

Mr. Aubin suffered his asbestos exposure from operating his construction firm that used asbestos-laden Union Carbide products for over 40 years, said his mesothelioma attorney, Juan Bauta.  Because many asbestos manufacturers knew the potential hazards yet concealed this information from the public, the area of mesothelioma law has evolved to help compensate victims.  In this particular case, the jury awarded the $14 million because Union Carbide was found negligent for selling their asbestos-containing products without any warning labels that the dangerous material was present.  Union Carbide was not the only defendant and four of the compound manufacturers selling UC’s products were also found liable.

If you may have been exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more about legal options, please contact us for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your potential claim.

Read the full article here.

The family of a Tyler, Texas woman that passed from mesothelioma have recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain a mesothelioma settlement.  Claudia Headley lost her battle with the disease on May 30, 2008.  Robert Headly, her husband, and sons Scott and Steven filed the suit against Shell Energy North America (US) LP, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobile Corp. and Alon USA, as successor in interest to Cosden Petroleum, on May 28, 2010 in the Tyler Division of the Eastern District of Texas.  Exposure to asbestos is almost exclusively the cause of the rare and aggressive cancer mesothelioma.  It is a disease that can take 15-40 years to develop, often starting in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).  Victims of the disease typically have an average life expectancy of a year following a diagnosis.

The case of Mrs. Headley is commonly referred to as secondary asbestos exposure because it is believed that her disease was caused from the asbestos fibers brought home on her family’s work clothing.  Much of her family including her father, husband, and son were employed at various oil refineries in Texas.   The case contends that Claudia Headley was exposed because she would check the pockets and wash her family’s work clothing often coated with asbestos dust from work.

Instances of secondary exposure illustrate the dangers associated with asbestos.  Unfortunately, despite never working directly with asbestos products, Mrs. Headley died from this deadly cancer.  Because many of the asbestos manufacturers were aware of the potential hazards of their product, yet hid the information from the public, the area of mesothelioma law has evolved to help compensate victims and their families. The Headleys are seeking wrongful death damages for pecuniary loss, termination of the husband-wife relationship, mental anguish, loss of household services, termination of the parent-child relationship, necessary medical, funeral and burial expenses, exemplary damages, interest and court costs.

Read the full article here.

An advisory has been issued by New York State Department of Labor for residents of Warrensburg regarding a demolition site next to Potter’s Diner.  A motel was demolished that was later found to contain asbestos.  The asbestos was discovered on a May 17 visit to the site when a sample taken from some of the motel’s felt and roofing shingles tested positive for asbestos after the building had been demolished.  Asbestos is a poisonous carcinogen and exposure to asbestos can cause a number of health problems including mesothelioma, an aggressive and rare cancer.

New York’s State Labor Department spokesman, Joe Morrissey, stated that building codes mandate an asbestos survey be performed before any demolition work.  As a result, Richard Galusha, one of the land owners, has received 3 violations including not conducting the asbestos survey, having an unlicensed contractor perform the demolition, and having an uncertified worker handling asbestos.  The building has already been torn down, but state officials have demanded the survey be completed and the area be cleaned.

Mr. Galusha is complaining that he was never told of the required asbestos tests and was unaware of its presence.  Even among the authorities, there seems to be confusion as to who was responsible for informing him of the mandatory surveys.  Of greater concern is the health of the workers who demolished the asbestos-containing building and disposed of the hazardous materials without knowledge of the danger.  It will be years before the workers determine whether they have been exposed because most asbestos-related health issues can take up to 15 years before surfacing.

Read the full article.

The daughter of a Utah home builder was just awarded $5.2 million in compensatory and punitive damages from a mesothelioma settlement.  The Utah jury determined that Vickie Warren should be awarded the sum from building manufacturing companies Georgia-Pacific and Hamilton Materials, and asbestos mining company Union Carbide after she was diagnosed with mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.  It can take 15-40 years to develop and often starts in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).  The average life expectancy of a victim post-diagnosis is around a year.

Ms. Warren suffered her exposure as a teenager in Provo, Utah.  She often worked alongside her father, a Geneva Steel employee, who built homes on the side.  He unknowingly used an asbestos-containing compound to smooth out joints in walls as part of these jobs.   This process involved shaving the walls down and Ms. Warren helped her father by cleaning up the dust and debris left behind.  The shaving and clean-up of debris released microscopic asbestos fibers into the air which were then inhaled by Ms. Warren.

Ms. Warren is now so ill from the asbestos exposure that her story was recounted to the Deseret News by one of her mesothelioma attorneys, Bob Gilchrist.  Because many of the asbestos manufacturers were aware of the potential hazards yet hid the information from the public, the area of mesothelioma law has evolved to help compensate victims.  In this particular case, the jury awarded $1.4 million in economic damages and $3.7 million in non-economic damages.  Gilchirst has stated that the $5.2 million awarded after the 6 week trial may be the largest mesothelioma verdict ever in Utah or the surrounding states and is a victory for not only himself and Warren, but other mesothelioma victims as well.

Read the full article here

A former employee of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and his wife were just awarded $208 million in damages as part of a mesothelioma settlement.  Rhoda Evans, and her husband, Bobby Evans, were awarded the sum from the CertainTeed Corporation and the LA Dept. of Water and Power after Rhoda developed mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a very rare and aggressive cancer that is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos.  The disease can take 15-40 years to develop, often starting in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).  The average life expectancy following a diagnosis averages around one year.

Mrs. Evans is a victim of what is commonly referred to as secondary asbestos exposure resulting from asbestos fibers from her husband’s work clothing.  Mr. Evans was employed by the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power and his job included cutting CertainTeed water pipes composed of asbestos cement.  The cutting process released microscopic asbestos particles into the air which then settled on Mr. Evans clothing.  It is believed that Rhoda Evans was exposed because she often washed her husband’s clothes which again released the fibers into the air where she could inhale them.

The nature of secondary exposure illustrates the dangers associated with asbestos.  Mrs. Evans never worked with asbestos products yet is now dying from the toxic fibers her husband unknowingly transported home.  Because many of the asbestos manufacturers were aware of the potential hazards of their product yet hid the information from the public, the area of mesothelioma law has evolved to help compensate victims.  In this case, the jury awarded $200 million in punitive damages and $8 million in compensatory damages.  CertainTeed has been assigned 70% and the L.A. Dept. of Water and Power 30% of the liability.  The large sum awarded is still subject to change as the judge will review arguments from both sides regarding the validity of the verdict, but it should remain a substantial sum.