Mesothelioma Lawsuit News

Sen. Spector Wants Fund to Compensate Asbestos Victims

2005-01-19T06:18:00.000-08:00

Sen. Arlen Specter the incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hold a hearing next week to establish a national fund for the compensation of asbestos victims.

Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, hoped to get the bill approved by committee and onto the floor of the Senate by "late January or early February". "I think it is important to move ahead," he said.

There were still many questions to be answered including, how much money would go into the fund, and under what conditions claimants could revert to the court system.

$23 Million Fine in Asbestos Fraud Case

2004-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

As reported in the previous post on this site, prosecutors were seeking severe penalties against a father and son convicted of fraud. They achieved their goal.

U.S. District Court Judge Howard Munson sentenced the son, Alexander Salvagno, to 25 years in federal prison. His father, Raul, 72, was sentenced to 19 1/2 years.

The Salvagnos have also been ordered to pay $23 million in restitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Benedict said their actions were among the "longest, most serious environmental crimes in United States history."

For the entire story: Asbestos Fraud

Massive Asbestos Fraud Case

2004-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Federal prosecutors are asking for more than $21 million dollars in restitution from the owners of a New York state based company. Raul and Alexander Salvagno, owners of AAR Contractor Inc., were convicted in March and prosecutors have identified more than 1,500 victims.

The Salvagnos were convicted of fraud and also of violating the Federal Clean Air Act and Toxic Substance Control Act. "Former employees testified the company took shortcuts on cleanups and falsified tens of thousands of tests over the course of a decade of wrongdoing."

There is no way of knowing how many individuals were exposed to asbestos particles as a result of the negligence and fraud of these individuals.

For the entire story: Asbestos Fraud

West Palm Beach No Longer King of Asbestos Lawsuits

2004-12-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

In an article for the Palm Beach Post, Staff Writer Mary McLachlin reports that since Judge Timothy McCarthy began questioning the reasons behind thousands of asbestos lawsuit claims winding up in southern Florida, the number has dropped substantially.

Judge McCarthy presides over the court's asbestos division and in the last month has "dismissed or transferred 94 of 95 cases that had been set for trial."

Due to the huge numbers of cases and the enormous amounts of money involved in asbestos and mesothelioma settlements there is pressure to enact legislation that would both protect the rights of the companies being sued and the right of asbestos cancer victims.

For more on this story see: Asbestos Lawsuits

For more legislature information see: Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Asbestos Payouts Case Back in Court

2004-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

In an article for the Yorkshire Post (Eng.) writer David Mark reports on a slightly new twist in the mesothelioma lawsuit situation.

"WORKMEN exposed to deadly asbestos and living with "potentially deadly timebombs" in the lining of their lungs today resume a legal fight to protect their rights to compensation."

In this case, a claim has been made that the exposure to asbestos has caused internal scars in the linings of the lungs. Lawyers for the workers are claiming that these "pleural plaques" increase the risk of contracting one of the many terminal illnesses associated with asbestos, such as mesothelioma cancer.

Lawyers for the insurance companies are claiming that there are no symptoms and that they should not have to pay compensation to people with the condition.

For the complete story: Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Settlement Reached in Asbestos Case

2004-12-15T07:02:00.002-08:00

John Mangalonzo writing for The Sweetwater News reports that a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of a Wisconsin man who died of asbestos-related cancer was settled out of court over the weekend.

According to the attorneys, the settlement is in excess of $1.5 million.

The family of Walter Flatoff had filed a $6 million civil suit against Georgia Pacific and Bondex. Mr. Flatoff died in 2003 after a lengthy fight with mesothelioma. The court was told that exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

For more on the story:Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Man Reaches $4 million Deal in Asbestos Lawsuit

2004-12-15T07:02:00.001-08:00

Brian Brueggemann (bbrueggemann@bnd.com), writing for the Belleville News-Democrat says that a 78 year old Chicago-area man, Luke Lindau, has settled several law suits including two against Georgia-Pacific and Bondex after developing mesothelioma cancer.

Lindau claimed that he developed mesothelioma while working as a painter and drywall supervisor. Asbestos found in joint compound was stated as the cause of the mesothelioma.

Lindau's attorney, Scott Hendler of Texas, Hendler declined to specify the settlement amounts with Georgia-Pacific and Bondex, but he said the settlements with them and other defendants "should approach $4 million."

For the rest of the story: Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Wife to Continue Husband's Battle

2004-12-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

A QUEST for compensation begun by a man suffering from asbestos-related cancer has now been taken up by his widow in response to his final wishes.

Bill Smart, from Swavesey, died on October 23, aged 67, from mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos dust. Following the disease's diagnosis in March 2003, he was advised to seek private compensation from the insurers of his former employers.

Mr Smart, who received support and advice from staff at Papworth Hospital, worked from 1953-1968 as a carpenter and joiner for Primes of Cambridge, where he was exposed to the dust while building flume cupboards for laboratories.

Solicitors, who are asbestos experts, took on the case, but have been unable to trace Primes' insurance company.

Now Mr Smart's wife Jenny, who is being assisted by a close family friend, hopes News readers might be able to help. "We are looking for someone who might have worked in the office or had an injury at work and might remember who the insurers were," she said.

The company, which carried out shop-fitting, was based in Burleigh Street, Cambridge, before moving to St Andrew's Road, Chesterton. It ceased trading in 1976.

Mr Smart, a grandfather-of-six, was highly regarded by people in Swavesey where he lived his whole life, and his funeral at St Andrew's Church was attended by 450 mourners.

He will be remembered for many things, particularly his building of a replica Big Ben for the village's Millennium celebrations. He was an active member of the Swavesey and District Branch of the Royal British Legion and produced scenery for the local RADSOC (Review and Drama Society). He had also been a member of the parish council and parochial church council.

"Bill was so fit and had never had anything wrong with him in his life until last year," said Mrs Smart, who enjoyed a holiday in South Africa with her husband in January.

"I asked him how he felt about his illness, and he said he just felt he had been robbed of his retirement and the rest of his life."

If anyone is able to help, please call Jo Stagg on (01223) 434417/ newsdesk on (01223) 434437.

* The Observer reported last month how insurers are concerned about footing the bill for illnesses linked to asbestos.

It reported that the insurance profession had put the future cost of asbestos-related diseases from £8bn- £20bn, which represents 80,000 - 200,000 new claims over the next 30 years.

Cambridge Newspapers Ltd : Winship Road. Milton. Cambridge

Pleural Effusions: A Possible Mesothelioma Warning Sign

2004-12-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Woodland Hills, CA—The Law Firm of Lewis & Schonick has released a new report on pleural effusions, which are a possible warning sign of mesothelioma. The following article was written by Eric N. Scholnick, Attorney at Law

Pleural effusion, which is an excess of fluid on the pleura, or lung lining, is not an uncommon medical finding, and is ordinarily not a cause for extreme concern. However, for persons with past exposure to asbestos, pleural effusions may be extremely significant, and should be treated with caution.

Pleural effusion is a common sign of malignancy, or cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a form of cancer for which the only known cause is asbestos exposure. Patients with past exposure to asbestos, who are diagnosed with pleural effusion, can have the fluid analyzed for cancer cells. Frequently, a diagnosis of cancer can be made just on the basis of analysis of pleural fluid.

Mesothelioma cancers can originate in the lung lining, or in the stomach, or peritoneum. A frequent symptom in both types of mesothelioma is rapid buildup of fluid. If you, a loved one, or a friend has a past history of asbestos exposure, such as from Navy or shipyard exposure, and is experiencing rapid fluid buildup in the chest or stomach, medical testing should be done immediately, to determine the presence or absence of cancer.

It is frequently the case that persons with fluid buildup in the chest or stomach choose not to seek medical evaluation. The attitude often seen is that people don't want to know if they're sick. This attitude is understandable, but erroneous. Prompt medical attention, and diagnosis, may be the difference between life and death.

Persons with past histories of asbestos exposure who are diagnosed with pleural effusion, or fluid buildup in the chest or stomach, can only benefit from prompt medical attention. Even with a past history of asbestos exposure, most pleural effusions are benign, or non-cancerous. A person with benign pleural effusion who goes in promptly for medical evaluation, and is told the effusion is non-cancerous, achieves a peace of mind unknown to the person who ignores the fluid buildup. If lung cancer is diagnosed following a pleural effusion, there is an increasingly high rate of successful treatment, if the lung cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. With respect to mesothelioma, early detection is absolutely essential to any chance of life-extending treatment.

The intent of this article is not to scare anyone; rather, the intent is to increase awareness of a potentially dangerous situation, and to help people overcome fear of medical treatment. If you have past asbestos exposure, and are experiencing a fluid buildup in your chest or stomach, please don't wait for a life-threatening situation to develop. Overcome your fear and go see a doctor immediately. Chances are it'll turn out to be nothing to worry about (which will be highly reassuring), but, in the event the pleural effusion is malignant, you will greatly increase the chances of successful treatment by having the condition diagnosed early. Either way, you win...and so does your family.

Persons with a past history of asbestos exposure, found to have asbestos-related lung disease, or cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, may be entitled to money damages.

More information can be found at the official Web site of The Law Firm of Lewis & Scholnick ( http://www.lsasbestoslaw.com ) The Web site contains informative articles on topics such as mesothelioma treatments, symptoms, palliative care and more. For more information on mesothelioma treatments, please see http://www.lsasbestoslaw.com/medical-treatment.html , and for more information on L&S litigation results, please see http://www.lsasbestoslaw.com/results.html.