Couple Sues 95 defendants

The Henthorns, a couple from West Virginia who filed their asbestos lawsuit in late October, are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages against 95 defendants in their mesothelioma lawsuit. The defendants rang from manufacturers to power companies to insurers. William R. Henthorn was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working with asbestos at PPF Natrium Plant from 1959 to 1977.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable form of cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos particles are released into the air and inhaled, they become lodged in the lungs causing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma lawyers say the large number of defendants is not unusual in asbestos lawsuits. Many companies have a duty to warn and protect against the dangers of asbestos but often fail to do so.

Mesothelioma has no known cure, and most of the sophisticated treatments typically only extend one’s life by a matter of months.

To learn more contact LegalView for a free mesothelioma law consultation at 866-9LAW-NOW. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669. Visit LegalView for more information about finding a potential mesothelioma lawyer and other information about environmental toxins, including asbestos.

Tags: Asbestos, Mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at 6:59 am and is filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Auto Mechanics at Risk for Mesothelioma

Adding to the list of all the other industrial jobs that have a risk to exposure to asbestos, automotive mechanic is yet another occupation in which workers are unaware of the prevalence of asbestos-containing products in automobile parts. Mechanics are advised to take precaution and keep themselves informed with asbestos exposure and the risks associated with the toxin.

It is estimated that two-thirds of automotive garages have asbestos dust present at dangerous levels. Automotive mechanics are at a high risk of inhaling loose asbestos dust while working on cars. Not only are professional mechanics at risk, car enthusiasts who perform maintenance on their own cars are equally at risk to inhaling the asbestos fibers.

The asbestos fibers could potentially enter the home of both mechanics and car enthusiasts if the dust is left on their clothes, not an unheard way of creating risk for family members.

Because of mesothelioma’s long latency period the incidence in mechanics is expected to peak in the next couple of years. Today asbestos-containing automotive parts continue to be used.

Mechanics exposed to asbestos are advised to learn their options regarding mesothelioma treatments and compensation. Contact Legal View anytime to learn how you and loved ones can protect yourselves. Contact LegalView for a free mesothelioma law consultation at 866-9LAW-NOW. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669.

Tags: Asbestos, Mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at 6:56 am and is filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Couple Sues 95 defendants

The Henthorns, a couple from West Virginia who filed their asbestos lawsuit in late October, are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages against 95 defendants in their mesothelioma lawsuit. The defendants rang from manufacturers to power companies to insurers. William R. Henthorn was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working with asbestos at PPF Natrium Plant from 1959 to 1977.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable form of cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos particles are released into the air and inhaled, they become lodged in the lungs causing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma lawyers say the large number of defendants is not unusual in asbestos lawsuits. Many companies have a duty to warn and protect against the dangers of asbestos but often fail to do so.

Mesothelioma has no known cure, and most of the sophisticated treatments typically only extend one’s life by a matter of months.

To learn more contact LegalView for a free mesothelioma law consultation at 866-9LAW-NOW. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669. Visit LegalView for more information about finding a potential mesothelioma lawyer and other information about environmental toxins, including asbestos.

Tags: Asbestos, Mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at 6:59 am and is filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Auto Mechanics at Risk for Mesothelioma

Adding to the list of all the other industrial jobs that have a risk to exposure to asbestos, automotive mechanic is yet another occupation in which workers are unaware of the prevalence of asbestos-containing products in automobile parts. Mechanics are advised to take precaution and keep themselves informed with asbestos exposure and the risks associated with the toxin.

It is estimated that two-thirds of automotive garages have asbestos dust present at dangerous levels. Automotive mechanics are at a high risk of inhaling loose asbestos dust while working on cars. Not only are professional mechanics at risk, car enthusiasts who perform maintenance on their own cars are equally at risk to inhaling the asbestos fibers.

The asbestos fibers could potentially enter the home of both mechanics and car enthusiasts if the dust is left on their clothes, not an unheard way of creating risk for family members.

Because of mesothelioma’s long latency period the incidence in mechanics is expected to peak in the next couple of years. Today asbestos-containing automotive parts continue to be used.

Mechanics exposed to asbestos are advised to learn their options regarding mesothelioma treatments and compensation. Contact Legal View anytime to learn how you and loved ones can protect yourselves. Contact LegalView for a free mesothelioma law consultation at 866-9LAW-NOW. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669.

Tags: Asbestos, Mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at 6:56 am and is filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy in Retired Employees

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which affects approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Retired employees who have worked at known asbestos sites such as powerhouses, oil refineries, power plants, shipyards, and construction sites should seek immediate diagnosis to determine if they have developed this deadly disease. Mesothelioma life expectancy in retired employees varies and depends on numerous factors.

A patient’s prognosis is affected by numerous factors which include early detection of the cancer, the age of the victim, the types of treatment received, how aggressively it is treated, and a patient’s diet can also contribute to an extended life-span. Mesothelioma however can be extremely difficult to detect due to the similarity of symptoms to other more common conditions such as influenza. Doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis which can delay receiving appropriate treatment. Due to the severe latency period of mesothelioma symptoms which is about 14-50, mesothelioma treatment will need to be aggressive. However the life expectancy for most mesothelioma sufferers is within 6 to twelve months from receiving prognosis.

If any of the symptoms listed below is detected, mesothelioma diagnosis is recommended to receive appropriate treatment:

AnemiaWeight lossExcessive fatigueDifficulty swallowingAbdominal swellingPain in chest areaCoughing up bloodShortness of breathPersistent dry coughAcute pain in the abdominal region

If you have mesothelioma cancer you will need to get a hold of an experience mesothelioma trial lawyer immediately. When the lawyer is seen, you will have to submit previous employment information, all medical information related to being exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma cancer. This information will help to speed things along during your mesothelioma trial.

Mesothelioma research and doctors are doing their best to improve the life expectancy of mesothelioma suffers. When an older person develops mesothelioma cancer, treatment is difficult due to other health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and other lung ailments which can significantly affect a patient’s life expectancy. While there is still no cure for mesothelioma, mesothelioma life expectancy in retired employees can be increased if patients undergo various aggressive treatments.

View the original article here

An Airbag’s Failure to Deploy

Many drivers and passengers feel more secure in automobiles today thanks to lighter car weight, better material and airbags. But occasionally airbags fail to deploy in serious accidents.  This does not mean that the airbag was defective.  There are many factors that determine if and when an airbag will deploy. Many times a thorough investigation of a car accident is required to determine whether the airbag was defective.

Airbag injuries can be rare, but they can occur when someone is too close or already directly in contact with the air bag when it deploys. Automobiles now have sensors both inside and outside the car that analyze data during a crash that make a decision about whether or not to deploy the vehicle’s airbags.

Reasons that airbags may not deploy include the item hit, the angle at which an item is hit, and if there was more than one item hit. Airbags are put in place to avoid serious injuries, but they may not work as intended.  When they do not deploy as they should it may be by airbag malfunction.

Have you been involved in accident that you think you deserve compensation for?  If would like to speak with a car accident lawyer please call LegalView for a free consultation. Our operators are available 24/7. Call 1-866-9LAW-NOW (1-866-952-9669).

Tags: Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, crashworthiness

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 at 6:04 am and is filed under Automobile Accidents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Mesothelioma Latency Period

The Mesothelioma latency period is very long. A latency period is the time it takes a disease to become apparent in its victim. With Mesothelioma cancer, this can range from 10 years to 40 years, with the uppermost number being more common. This latency period is the longest of any of the illnesses cause by asbestos exposure.

The majority of the time senior citizens and those over 40 are the ones that receive the bad news of Mesothelioma cancer. Of those diagnosed below the age of 40 most often, exposure occurred during the victims childhood years. Childhood diagnoses of the disease are extremely rare.

When a person is exposed to asbestos for a long period or in great concentrations, the latency period seems to lessen. The greater the amount of asbestos fiber that a person inhales or ingests the lower the latency period becomes. These high concentrations are usually limited to shipyard workers and vessel construction workers.

Due to of Mesothelioma’s extremely long latency period those that are diagnosed with the illness do not survive very long after the discovery. Cancer victims stand a better chance for recovery when cancers are discovered early so Mesothelioma latency period does not help its victims. By the time, the cancer is discovered it is far too late.

Mesothelioma cancer comes in several forms and they are designated by the location of the cancer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the thin membrane that lines the stomach and Pleural Mesothelioma is found in the membrane surrounding the lungs. Of the two, Pleural Mesothelioma has the longest latency period. There are also Mesothelioma cancers associated with the heart and the testicles.

The overwhelming majority of Mesothelioma victims inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers at work in industrial settings. Most developed countries have now put curbs on the use of asbestos but due to the extended latency period, cases of the cancer will continue to rise. Exposure to asbestos in America was at its highest in the middle of the last century.

Therefore, there was an increase in diagnoses near the turn of the century. Around the globe, peaks maybe on the rise due to the shift of asbestos use to less developed nations.

Due to its extended latency period, Mesothelioma can lurk for decades undetected which means there maybe unknown exposures that have been uncovered. A cluster of workers could have been exposed unwittingly and the cancer maybe waiting to appear. This is just one the many issue Mesothelioma researchers must deal with because of Mesothelioma latency period.

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Nursing Home Closures due to Lack of Funding

Across the nation nursing homes are closing due to underfunding. The nursing homes are primarily closing in minority and poor areas because of underfunding by Medicaid. The average nursing home worker earns close to minimum wage, much less than other health care workers, which makes it difficult to hire good help. Medicaid covers close to 2/3 of nursing facilities funding, the rest comes from individuals either private-pay or insurance. Medicare will pays for a short-term rehabilitation, but does not reimburse for long-term care in a nursing home.
The states with the highest cuts are New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Minority communities, mainly Black and Hispanic, are having the most trouble keeping their nursing homes open. The best solution would be to improve access to home-based care and other community-based care models, such as assisted living facilities.
With nursing homes closing, the elderly are having trouble finding places to live. Between 1998 and 2008, there has been a 5% decrease in the number of  beds available.
Think you have been neglected by a nursing home? Contact LegalView today regarding your legal options regarding nursing homes today. Call 1-866-9LAW-NOW (1-866-952-9669) for a lawyer that can advise you on your legal options and help you pursue justice.
Tags: Negligence, Nursing Homes
This entry was posted on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 7:30 am and is filed under Medical Malpractice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Altered Voltage in “Instructor Cells” May Contribute to Cancer Growth

Unique “instructor cells” recently identified by biologists at Tufts University have been shown to spur melanoma-like growth in pigment cells when membrane voltage is altered. According to researchers, this voltage change triggers a series of events that directly leads to the abnormal growth of melanocytes within stem cells.

The new findings could eventually lead to successful treatment and prevention regimens for a variety of cancers, as well as vitiligo and certain birth defects.

Details of the study are reported in the October 19 issue of Disease Models and Mechanisms. The study involved the manipulation of voltages felt across cell membranes of in vivo frog tadpole “instructor cells.” Based on specific voltage levels, researchers were able to predict which cells would eventually exhibit signs of aggressive melanoma with remarkable accuracy.

According to lead researcher Michael Levin, melanoma symptoms were directly linked to the do-polarization of cells.

Interestingly, the “instructor cells” are not housed within the stem cells themselves. Rather, they communicate with stem cells via serotonin transport-based pathways. This fact – that distant cells can directly induce alterations in other cells – is a fairly novel discovery.

The research raises questions about how such regenerative treatments as stem cell therapy may potentially result in the development of cancer. This is due to the fact that electrical stimulation has been previously linked as a key component for regeneration (Levin and colleagues previously showed how amputated tadpole tails could be induced to regenerate via use of electrical current).

Presently, the widespread importance of electrical manipulation is in question. Some experts on the subject, such as regenerative biophysicist Richard Borgens of Purdue University, suspect that electrical activity only plays a role in a small set of cancer types.

Regardless, the identification of melanoma instructor cells suggests that similar, though wholly different, triggers may be present in other types of cancer. As Levin suggests, the next step is to look for and identify additional instructor cells that may be used to better understand the formation of other cancers.

Sources:
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57754/
http://www.eurekalert.org/
http://www.genengnews.com/

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 at 2:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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New Policy May Hold Truck Drivers more accountable

Last year the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported approximately 5,000 trucking accidents that resulted in death. The majority of these accidents are preventable due to inadequate regulations. These accidents are usually due to fatigue, excessive driving time, speeding and/or distracted driving.  These all could be regulated but currently there is no effective way for roadside enforcement to check the hours driven.  The problem could be eliminated if motor carriers were required to use electronic on board recording devices, technology that currently exists.

Commercial trucks only make up 4 percent of all registered vehicles, yet are responsible for 11 percent of all fatal accidents. Truck accidents rarely result in fender-benders and most result in damage to smaller vehicles and their drivers. Truck drivers tend to falsify their logged hours, making it difficult for law enforcement to be effective. This can result in the catastrophic injuries and deaths that are so common in the trucking industry.

In 2011 new processes will be implemented that include new safety rules that will hold drivers and motor carriers more accountable for violations of these rules.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a trucking accident, an experienced accident attorney can help to protect your rights. For more information on your rights following a trucking accident contact LegalView today. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669.

Tags: Auto Accidents, Car Accident, Car Accidents, crashworthiness

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 at 7:15 am and is filed under Automobile Accidents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Prediction: No Respite From Bogus “Tort Reform” Claims

Here’s a prediction for 2011 — Republicans in Congress will spend most of this year attempting to repeal or dismantle health care reform.

Access to affordable health care is a huge worry to Americans, including Americans with the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma. The cost of mesothelioma treatment could be ruinous to the uninsured.

Last year’s health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, should help millions of Americans afford better health care once all the provisions go into effect. But many politicians are determined to dismantle the law before it all goes into effect.

Another prediction is that we’ll continue to hear claims that “tort reform” is the magic bullet that will solve all our health care problems. This is true even though study after study has found that the actual cost of malpractice litigation comes to less than 2 percent of the nation’s health care cost.

We’re told over and over again that the bigger cost of malpractice is “defensive medicine.” Doctors order unnecessary tests and procedures because they fear being sued. And there are studies that appear to back up this claim. A number of surveys have been published in which doctors report that 18  to 28 percent of the tests and procedures they order are purely “defensive.” “Tort reform” advocates use these figures to estimate that “defensive medicine” is costing the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars.

However, a new study out of the University of Iowa has found that, in state after state, “reforming” malpractice law has no impact on physician “defensive” practices.

“We found that both generalist and specialist physicians fear being sued for malpractice even in states where their risk of being sued is relatively low,” said senior study author David Katz, M.D. “One likely explanation is that physicians’ concerns about malpractice are driven more by their perception that the malpractice tort process is unfair and arbitrary and less by their actual risk of getting sued.”

“The high levels of malpractice concern, even among physicians in relatively low-risk environments, is striking,” Katz said. “One possible explanation is that most physicians do not have the information to accurately access their actual risk of being sued.”

We’ve seen in state after state in which malpractice law is “reformed” that it has no impact on the cost of health care. Although physicians in “reformed” states usually do enjoy lower malpractice insurance premiums, these savings are not passed on to the consumer — the patient — and overall costs of health care continue to skyrocket.

And often, when the old “tort reform” law doesn’t work, state legislatures brilliantly respond by reforming tort even more.

Texas has “reformed” its tort laws so much that emergency room physicians have a near zero chance of being sued. Emily Ramshaw reported in the New York Times that the state’s 2003 tort reform law “made it more difficult for patients to win damages in any health care setting, but especially emergency rooms.”

In order to win a malpractice suit in Texas, patients have to prove an ER doctor acted with “willful and wanton” negligence, meaning a doctor wasn’t just careless but deliberately hurt the patient. Texas attorneys say this is an impossible threshold to meet and have stopped taking cases involving emergency room personnel.

Texas politicians like to brag that Texas malpractice premiums have gone down by 30 percent — which, they say, proves tort reform “works.” However, in the past ten years, patient health insurance premiums in Texas have gone up by almost 92 percent. It works? Heck of a job.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at 9:18 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Mesothelioma diagnosis prompts advocating for others

About three thousand Americans suffer from mesothelioma each year. A rare cancer, mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period and a short life expectancy. It can take decades for mesothelioma to demonstrate symptoms in patients, but following diagnosis average patient life expectancy is eighteen months.

There are mesothelioma treatments available, which directly fight the cancer. These include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Many patients are also turning to palliative care to manage the pain and quality of life for the time they have left.

Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma at age 54, one man is facing the realities of his case with unexpected selflessness. Richard Mosca decided that his time would be spent advocating for others suffering from mesothelioma and similar illnesses. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation nominated Mosca to evaluate potential research projects.

Now, Mosca works with other patients, survivors and family members of those affected by military related illnesses and injuries on the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The PRMRP is made possible through Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs of the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD’s vision to “find and fund the best research to eradicate diseases and support the warfighter for the benefit of the American public,” is in accord with Mosca’s personal goals for his time as a reviewer.

Mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses caused by asbestos have been associated with military service for years. Asbestos was heavily used from the 1940s to 1970s in ship building, munitions manufacturing and as a fire deterrent in military facilities. It is closely tied to naval ships in engine and boiler room components such as valves, pumps and gaskets. About one third of mesothelioma cases are found in naval servicemen and women.

Asbestos is considered non-threatening when contained inside other materials. Dangerous if inhaled, asbestos fibers become a health risk if airborne. The Environmental Protection Agency began regulating the use and removal processes of asbestos in the 1980s, defined in the Clean Air Act. Mesothelioma has such a long latency period though, that many believe the peak of mesothelioma cases has yet to be seen.

The PRMRP is committed to benefiting health and quality of life for military personnel, veterans and their family members. Regarding his experience as a reviewer for the program, Mosca said, “many brilliant people out there wanting to help the mesothelioma community – compassionate and understanding medical professionals dedicated to treating and curing mesothelioma.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 at 9:32 AM and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Couple Sues 95 defendants

The Henthorns, a couple from West Virginia who filed their asbestos lawsuit in late October, are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages against 95 defendants in their mesothelioma lawsuit. The defendants rang from manufacturers to power companies to insurers. William R. Henthorn was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working with asbestos at PPF Natrium Plant from 1959 to 1977.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable form of cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos particles are released into the air and inhaled, they become lodged in the lungs causing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma lawyers say the large number of defendants is not unusual in asbestos lawsuits. Many companies have a duty to warn and protect against the dangers of asbestos but often fail to do so.

Mesothelioma has no known cure, and most of the sophisticated treatments typically only extend one’s life by a matter of months.

To learn more contact LegalView for a free mesothelioma law consultation at 866-9LAW-NOW. Our operators are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1-866-952-9669. Visit LegalView for more information about finding a potential mesothelioma lawyer and other information about environmental toxins, including asbestos.

Tags: Asbestos, Mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at 6:59 am and is filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Canada Considers Re-opening Asbestos Mine Despite Dangers & Protests

Chrysotile Asbestos

The Canadian government is considering re-opening an asbestos mine in order to get new supplies of chrysotile asbestos.  A proposal to convert Jeffrey Mine, an open pit mine that supplied much of the export supply of chrysotile asbestos, into an underground operation is being considered by the government despite global protests and knowledge of the dangers of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is well known for its heat, fire and erosion resistant properties.  For almost a century, until the early 1980’s, asbestos was added to thousands of industrial and construction products.  In the early 80’s, many developed countries began imposing bans on the use of asbestos, as well as regulations for management, removal and disposal of asbestos due to its toxic nature.

Asbestos, decades after exposure, causes serious and fatal illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.  Over a hundred thousand a year worldwide die of an asbestos related disease each year, and it is estimated to be the cause of one third of all occupational cancers.

Canada itself is in the process of removing asbestos from its buildings and products and has a ban on the use of asbestos in most circumstances.  However, Canada continues to export tons of chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, to developing countries, such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea and Japan.

Despite the known risks of exposure and also the knowledge that often developing countries do not provide training or protection of workers using asbestos, the Quebec government is considering providing a loan of just under $60 million as a guarantee of the project to convert and reopen the mine.  Jean Charest, current Premier of Quebec, claims that they would require a guarantee that those receiving the asbestos would follow the rules of “safe use of chrysotile effective in Canada.”

The problem is there is no “safe” level of exposure and there is no way to guarantee that importing countries will use asbestos in a way that protects workers and the general public from exposure.  In fact, the current reality of rising numbers of asbestos related diseases both in Canada and in other countries reveals that indeed importing countries will not protect and even with protections and warnings, deaths are on the rise.

Despite worldwide protests and 40 asbestos victims joint effort of a signed letter lobbying against the re-opening of the Jeffrey mine and continued export of the deadly mineral, Charest and others within Quebec continue to say that chrysotile can be mined and used safely.  Renowned medical and scientific organizations that oppose the move include:

Despite the show of global unity, the Canadian government is still considering the proposal.  One can only hope that the growing awareness and increased joint efforts to educate about the dangers and eradicate the use of asbestos worldwide will be sufficient to prevent the reopening of a mine that basically delivers a fatal poison.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 30th, 2010 at 11:39 am and is filed under Asbestos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

View the original article here

New York Contractor Convicted of Asbestos Violations

Mesothelioma Law Blog: New York Contractor Convicted of Asbestos ViolationsMesothelioma Law Blog« Attic-Stored Christmas Décor Could Pose Risk of Mesothelioma |Main

New York Contractor Convicted of Asbestos Violations

Rochester, NY - (Mesothelioma News) A federal jury in Rochester, N.Y., has convicted a contractor of violating the Clean Air Act and exposing workers and the public to cancer-causing asbestos. The verdict, reached on Nov. 12, focused on the actions of Keith Gordon-Smith and Gordon-Smith Contracting during a two-year demolition project at Rochester’s Genesee Hospital.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Department of Justice, who tried the case against the upstate New York contractor, said asbestos “fell like snow” on workers, who wore no protective suits.

Mesothelioma lawyers say the extent and duration of the violations are particularly troubling because the resulting asbestos exposure could put many individuals at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a nearly always fatal cancer that strikes the protective lining covering many of the body’s organs.

The heat- and fire-resistant qualities of asbestos made it a popular building material until it was scientifically linked to cancer. Even so, it is still present in many buildings, from homes and offices to schools, and its removal and disposal is strictly regulated by federal and state law.

Contractors, for example, must take special care when removing the material during renovation and demolition work. They are required to provide workers with adequate safety garments and gear, and to minimize the danger of asbestos being released into the air. When airborne, asbestos particles are especially dangerous, because they can easily be inhaled and lodge in the lungs, triggering diseases like mesothelioma, which manifests itself years, even decades, later.

Medical researchers have not fared so well in the fight to eradicate mesothelioma. To date, there is still no cure. The disease, which is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, is both physically and financially devastating.

Mesothelioma lawyers, on the other hand, have had great success in the courtroom, obtaining large, often multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements against those who knew about asbestos dangers but did little, or nothing, to protect others.

These civil cases are just part of the story. In recent years, courts have seen an increasing number of criminal cases brought against those who do not follow the rules when it comes to handling asbestos. The Rochester case is just one example of this increased focus on enforcement.

Gordon-Smith, who was convicted on eight counts of asbestos removal violations from 2007 through 2009 and then lied to hide those violations, now faces up to five years in prison, along with fines of up to $250,000 on each count.

Nor were Gordon-Smith’s actions an innocent mistake, according to prosecutor Ignacio Moreno, assistant U.S. attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. Instead, Moreno said, the contractor knowingly exposed workers and public areas to asbestos-and an increased risk of mesothelioma and other deadly diseases.

While Gordon-Smith’s exact prison sentence and fine will soon be known, those who were exposed to asbestos because of his actions will have a far longer wait to learn their own fate.

This news story was brought to you by the mesothelioma lawyers of Cooney & Conway. For more than half a century, we’ve brought relief-and recovery-to those injured by the negligence or harmful actions of others. In the process, we’ve litigated some of the country’s most significant asbestos lawsuits, helping victims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases get answers and justice.

Source

December 31, 2010 | Permalink

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December 2010SunMonTueWedThuFriSat   12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 Recent PostsNew York Contractor Convicted of Asbestos ViolationsAttic-Stored Christmas Décor Could Pose Risk of MesotheliomaLong Island town tries again to line up contractor for asbestos removalArizona town gets grant to remove asbestosN.Y.'s high court tosses asbestos suitMesothelioma Cases Rising in the United KingdomDisagreement over the use of surgery to treat mesothelioma patientsAsbestos group wants research not reviewMesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention EffortsMesothelioma Treatment Improved with the Addition of Tomudex to Cisplatin TherapyCategoriesAnti Cancer TreatmentAsbestosAsbestos BillsAsbestos CasesAsbestos CleanupAsbestos CompensationAsbestos DangersAsbestos DeathsAsbestos in the WorkplaceAsbestos SettlementsAsbestos WisconsinColorado MesotheliomaConnecticut AsbestosCrocidolite AsbestosDetecting MesotheliomaErie County AsbestosFight Against CancerFiji AsbestosGeneral Mesothelioma NewsGeorgie AsbestosIllinois AsbestosLegal QuestionsLegal RightsLondon AsbestosMaryland AsbestosMasschusetts AsbestosMesotheliom ResearchMesothelioma AnswersMesothelioma CancerMesothelioma CasesMesothelioma CompensationMesothelioma LawMesothelioma law verdictsMesothelioma LawyerMesothelioma LawyersMesothelioma Legal NewsMesothelioma SettlementsMesothelioma StoriesMesothelioma Treatment OptionsMinnesota Minnesota MesotheliomaMissouri AsbestosNew Jersey MesotheliomaNew York AsbestosOhio ResearchPitsburgh MesotheliomaPreventing MesotheliomaSouth Carolina MesotheliomaTelomerase Gene SequenceTennessee MesotheliomaTexas Mesothelioma AttorneysUK AsbestosUncategorizedUnderstanding MesotheliomaVermont AsbestosVermont Asbestos LawVirginia AsbestosMesothelioma News From Topix.netBlog Created ByLawyers CourtOther Legal BlogsDUI SarasotaKent Washington Personal InjuryRenton Personal InjuryLynnwood Personal InjuryBellevue Personal InjuryEverett Personal Injury LawyerCriminal Tax BlogSecurities Law NewsSacramento DUI LawTax Litigation BlogSearch Engine BlogsExecutive SEO MarketingSearch Engine WatchSearch Engine LowdownGoogle BlogYahoo Search BlogSEARCH MARKETING NEWSSubscribe to this blog's feedAdd me to your TypePad People listOther Legal SitesChicago Medical MalpracticeClearwater DUI AttorneyKirkland Personal Injury LawyerChicago Personal InjuryPolk County Drunk Driving LawyersOrlando DUI Law FirmWashington Auto Accident AttorneysRenton Family LawyersFort Wayne Slip & FallDUI ExpungementDeer Park LawyerChicago LawyersSecurities Arbitration AttorneysMinnesota LawyersPalm Springs DUIChicago AttorneysIllinois Tax AttorneyChicago Securities LawSeattle Car Accident LawyerChicago Illinois AttorneyNew York Construction LawyerChicago Shareholder DisputesCalifornia DUI LawyersIllinois Antitrust LawyersWashington Accident AttorneySeattle Personal InjuryChicago Eminent DomainChicago Corporate LawyersPortland Real Estate LawIowa Injury LawyersChicago Business LawLegal DirectoryChicago Securities LawyerChicago Wills AttorneyChicago Probate LawyersChicago LawyersLegal News FeedsLaw Firm ConsultantChicago Tax LawyersAttorney SEOOther SitesChicago Gutter CleaningHospitality TrainingCredit InsuranceSun ProtectionChicago Career CoachWest Palm Beach BankJackson Hole ContractorsBoston LimousinesSun HatsChicago Web DesignArchivesDecember 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010More...

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Mesothelioma Brain Metastases

mesothelioma brain metastases

By the time mesothelioma has reached Stage 4 classification, the tumor has advanced and spread to different sites far away from the primary location. Most times mesothelioma spreads to vital organs like the brain, other areas in the chest cavity and into vital organs situated in the abdominal cavity.

The TNM System

The TNM system categorizes cancer based on three factors:1} the size of the tumor, 2}whether the cancer has spread from its point of origin to nearby lymph nodes, and 3}whether the cancer has metastasized. This system may be used to stage pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The T stands for the size of the tumor, the N stands for the extent of lymph node involvement, and the M for the extent of distant metastases. This is the commonest staging system used for most cancers.

The Butchart System

The Butchart System categorizes the different stages of the cancer based mainly on the size and spread of the primary tumor. This system has four stages. In Stage 4 of the Butchart system, mesothelioma has metastasized, spreading through the bloodstream to organs and tissues that are distant from the primary tumor site.

The Brigham System

The Brigham system is a relatively new system of staging mesothelioma. This system classify mesothelioma into different stages based on whether or not tumors can be removed via surgery {resectability of the tumor mass}, and whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The Brigham system includes four stages. In Stage 4 of the Brigham system, mesothelioma is inoperable due to the large size of tumors and it has penetrated into vital organs. In addition, mesothelioma has metastasized to other locations, meaning cancer is more than likely to recur even if primary tumors are removed.

How is Stage 4 Mesothelioma Treated?

Patients with stage 4 have few treatment options. With Stage 4 mesothelioma, the prognosis is generally very poor due to the spread of cancer to multiple locations. Additionally, primary tumors have often penetrated too deeply into organs and tissues to be removed. The general health of stage 4 patients would have also declined to a level where the patient is too weak to withstand the physical stress of surgery.

Stage 4 treatments are therefore limited to palliative treatments that are used to relieve symptoms of the disease. These may include procedures such as thoracentesis or paracentesis, where built-up fluid is removed from the lungs or abdomen to relieve pain and pressure on internal organs. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be used to shrink tumors to provide symptomatic relief. As these treatments often have serious side effects, patients should carefully consider whether or not they wish to endure such treatments at this final stage.

About the Author

Bello kamorudeen.For more information on mesothelioma staging go to http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

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