Asbestos And Mesothelioma Updates

Monday, June 13, 2011

Mesothelioma Risk in Massachusetts Following Tornadoes?

Almost immediately in the wake of tornadoes in Missouri that sparked fears of asbestos exposure amid debris and rubble, Massachusetts is now dealing with a similar situation after a string of tornadoes roared through their area as well.

Prior to 1980 when restrictions were put on when asbestos could be used, the fiber was included in thousands of vinyl flooring, insulation, roofing, mastics, and plaster building/construction products.

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With this in mind, residents in Massachusetts such as Springfield that were affected by deadly tornadoes that ripped through the state are worried the 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. Additionally, residents 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.

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Company Fined $132K for Asbestos Violations

A construction company is being fined $132K by the state of Indiana for federal violations involving the removal and disposal of asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that was once used extensively in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing and automotive products. Inhaling or swallowing even the smallest amounts of deadly asbestos fibers can lead to an asbestos-related disease, including asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma.

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According to the Madison Courier, the Indiana Department of Labor found that Ford Lumber & Building Supply Inc. in southern Indiana committed 16 violations during a project in which its workers removed asbestos insulation from hot water pipes. Incredibly, the company failed to provide even the minimum of safety standards to protect workers from mesothelioma. It did not provide them with respirators and even allowed them to clean up the dusty, dangerous killer asbestos with brooms and dustpans.

Companies like Ford Lumber & Building Supply Inc. have been putting workers at risk of asbestos exposure for many years. As mesothelioma has a long latency period which can be as long as 40 years, some cases of negligent asbestos exposure are only now manifesting into full-blown mesothelioma from exposure that happened as far back as the 1960s. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and have developed mesothelioma as a result, you may be eligible for a mesothelioma settlement.

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Doctors Object to Lung Removal Procedures for Mesothelioma Patients

Doctors at the 1st International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in Santa Monica, CA have unanimously decided against using radical lung removal procedures to treat patients who are suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Experts and physicians at the symposium analyzed data gathered from both cancer centers around the U.S. and a U.K.-based Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery trial. Additionally, those at the symposium heard presentations from experts who addressed the potential complications caused by extrapleural pneumonectomies, or the removal of the lung.

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By the end of the day-long symposium, Dr. Robert B. Cameron, who is the chairman of the event in addition to being the director of the UCLA Mesothelioma Research Program, said that the attendants were

Asbestos Removal Planned After Fire Near Massachusetts Elementary School

Employees from the Massachusetts Public Works Department are monitoring the site of a fire that happened a week ago on Humphrey Street in Swampscott. The site of the fire, which destroyed several commercial and residential properties, was discovered to contain small amounts of asbestos.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is known to cause health problems including mesothelioma cancer. Before the public became aware of asbestos exposure and its potential health problems, asbestos was added to various construction products for its resistance to fire, heat, friction, electrical, and chemical damage.

The site of the fire shares a property line with Hadley Elementary School, which was shut down for multiple days last week due to air quality issues. The current plan, set by the Department of Environmental Protection, involves a perimeter set around the school where the air will be tested for asbestos twice daily. This is to ensure the safety of the students and teachers while crews outfitted in protective suits remove the building remains from the nearby site. In addition, the debris will be sprayed with water in an effort to keep any dangerous asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos or diagnosed with mesothelioma, a mesothelioma lawyer may be able to assist you.

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Boston Construction Companies to Pay $100,000 Penalty to EPA for Improper Handling of Asbestos

A number of Boston-area construction companies that have been the focus of enforcement action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have settled their cases and will pay a combined penalty of $100,000 for violating the Clean Air Act.

According to the EPA, GSA, Goody Clancy and Associates, ATC Associates, Suffolk Construction Company and Fleet Industrial Services were all singled out for violating Clean Air Act requirements and regulations when removing asbestos products during a 2007 renovation project.

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While working at the John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House Building in Boston, the construction and asbestos abatement companies were found to have improperly removed, handled, and disposed of asbestos-containing products they came across during the renovations.

The asbestos violations were uncovered by the EPA and the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety following a joint inspection of the site. The EPA immediately issued a compliance order, forcing the abatement companies and building owner to remedy their actions. The four companies agreed to settle and pay the combined $100,000 fine on March 2.

Because of the McCormack Building’s close proximity to Boston’s downtown, which has many office buildings and is near popular tourist destinations such as Faneuil Hall and Boston Common, any loose asbestos released into the air could potentially be inhaled by thousands of people at any time. While prolonged asbestos exposure increases the chances of eventually developing a disease such as mesothelioma, even minimal exposure to the fibers can be enough to make one sick as well.

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or company, 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.

Building Owner Pleads Guilty to Illegally Removing Asbestos during Renovation

The owner of the well-known Equitable Building in Des Moines is facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty this week to conspiring to illegally removing asbestos from a well known building in downtown Des Moines.

Bob Knapp, the 61-year-old former owner of the Equitable Building until he lost it to foreclosure in 2010, pled guilty in a District Court to two charges related to illegally removing asbestos products from the building and violating the Clean Air Act during renovations that occurred between 2005 and 2008. The renovations were part of plan put in place by Knapp following his purchase of the building in 2005 to convert the upper floors into luxury condominiums.

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Russell Coco, the manager of the renovation project, had previously been indicted on similar asbestos removal charges. He pled guilty to the charges, and agreed to testify against Knapp if the case went to trial.

The maximum prison term that Knapp is eligible for is 5 years for each count. He also may be subject to a fine of up to $250,000 per count. This will be the second punishment for Knapp, as he agreed to pay a $500,000 civil fine to the State of Iowa for improperly removing asbestos products in 2009 as well.

Exposing asbestos products in the downtown area could potentially have serious repercussions, as anyone in the vicinity of the exposure site stands the risk of inhaling the deadly fibers. While increased exposure to asbestos increases the chances of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, even incidental or one-time exposure has the potential to make you sick.

Mesothelioma and asbestosis are both deadly illnesses that are caused primarily by prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. If you have developed one of these illnesses, it may be worth 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.

Friday, May 27, 2011

$25 Million Awarded in Asbestos Case Against Exxon Mobil

Last week, the jury of an asbestos lawsuit in a Newport News, VA court awarded Rubert Minton $25 million in his case against Exxon Mobil. Mr. Minton had spent ten years as a supervisor on commercial ships for Newport News Shipbuilding after seven years as a shipfitter constructing the vessels. As a shipyard worker, his responsibilities included repair work on 17 Exxon oil tankers. Years later, Mr. Minton was diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during his time at the shipyard.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can release fibers into the air which, when inhaled, can lead to a number of health problems including mesothelioma cancer. Shipyard workers and shipbuilders worked with asbestos products in different areas of the ship because of its resistance to heat, electrical, and chemical damage. Asbestos was used in over 300 products on ships until the 1970’s. In fact, it has been estimated that larger ships during this time period contained over 1,000 tons of asbestos.

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Legal actions against ship owners like Exxon Mobil, rather than against the makers of asbestos-containing ship parts, is a fairly recent turn in asbestos lawsuits. Also, Mr. Minton’s $25 million victory is one of the largest awards to date in a Virginia personal injury case. According to the jury, Mr. Minton's legal team was able to show that Exxon had been aware of the health issues associated with asbestos exposure (they began protecting refinery workers in the 1930’s), but still failed to warn shipbuilders and crewmembers on their oil tankers. Mr. Minton underwent major lung operations in 2009 for his mesothelioma and doctors believe his life expectancy was extended beyond 18 months to 3-5 years.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos or diagnosed with mesothelioma, a mesothelioma attorney may be able to help.