According to an Australian newspaper, mesothelioma is on the rise among Australian women. Although the exact cause for the increase is unknown, officials with Australia's Asbestos Diseases Foundation believe that the growing popularity of do-it-yourself home renovation projects. Foundation officials are so concerned about this apparent mesothelioma epidemic that they have asked the Australian government to require home improvement television shows to provide disclaimers warning viewers of the dangers of asbestos exposure before every program.
Researchers uncover genetic link to mesothelioma
Although medical researchers made the connection between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma many years ago, there is still relatively little that is known about the deadly disease. This is why, although mesothelioma generally takes several decades to develop following asbestos exposure, about half of those who are diagnosed with the disease pass away less after battling the painful disease for less than one year.
Navy veteran wins multi-million dollar mesothelioma lawsuit
Earlier this month, we wrote about a $2.4 million verdict that was awarded to a former Navy veteran who had developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos throughout his decade of service on Navy ships. Now, another former naval shipyard employee has been awarded damages after almost 20 years of working in the boiler rooms of several Navy vessels resulted in a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma.
Belleville asbestos lawsuit grows more complicated
In June, we wrote about a confusing series of legal battles between the city of Belleville, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Attorney General, an excavation company, and various other groups and individuals regarding a building that was destroyed by fire over a year ago. Now, the owner of the destroyed property, who previously sued the city for tearing the building down without his permission, is the subject of a countersuit filed by city in regards to the asbestos that has been found at the building's site.
Renowned forensic sculptor succumbs to mesothelioma
Before Frank Bender became a forensic sculptor and an invaluable asset to several Philadelphia-area police agencies, and before he became a savior to the families of murder victims who had gone years without answers, he was a member of the United States Navy who spent many years sleeping on Navy vessels. And it was because of those years that Bender developed the mesothelioma that would ultimately take his life when he was just 70 years old.
Illinois courts trend against mesothelioma victims
Last month, we wrote about a mesothelioma verdict that was ultimately overturned in an Illinois appellate court after the judges found that there was no relationship between the plaintiff, who had been awarded more than $2.5 million, and the defendant companies. In the wake of that verdict, appeals have been filed in several other Illinois asbestos verdicts, leading many asbestos lawsuit attorneys and plaintiffs to worry that the state courts may be trending against the victims of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.
Navy veteran awarded multi-million damages in asbestos lawsuit
Although mesothelioma is common among workers in industries such as general contractors and construction workers, railroad employees, and heating and cooling installers and maintenance workers, it is especially prevalent among U.S. Navy and other military veterans. This is because naval shipyard employees worked with products containing asbestos on a daily basis. Boilers, hydraulic assemblies, gaskets, adhesives, and thermal insulation are just a few examples of the many asbestos-laden products regularly encountered by Navy veterans.
EPA investigates Illinois building demolition
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun an investigation into possible violations of state asbestos regulations in the demolition of a power building in Peru, Illinois, about 200 miles north of Madison County. The demolition and asbestos removal must now be halted until the investigation is complete.
City settles asbestos lawsuit
When companies make the decision to expand their business, or even when prospective homeowners decide to buy or build a home, the process of determining and discovering what used to be in that space, and whether any potentially harmful activity took place there, can be a long and difficult one. Sellers are not always quick to reveal negative aspects about their property, such as the existence of asbestos in the ground or the building. But failing to disclose this information can lead to significant legal liability, as was demonstrated in a recent settlement between a city and a company that purchased former city property.
