On our mesothelioma law blog, we focus almost exclusively on the risks facing contractors, construction workers, insulation installers, shipyard and railroad employees and other workers who are exposed to asbestos over the course of their employment. We do not often focus on the people who live near a mine or other source of asbestos, and who are therefore exposed to the deadly fibers on a daily basis and, often, without knowledge of that exposure.
Lawsuit alleges lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure
The family of a former pipe fitter has filed a lawsuit against his employers, alleging that they should have warned the pipe fitter of the risks and dangers of asbestos exposure, and that they are therefore responsible for his death.
Court: Respirator maker should have warned of asbestos risk
A state Supreme Court has ruled that the manufacturer of respirators designed to protect against asbestos exposure may have a duty to warn users of the potential risks they may encounter while using and maintaining the respirators. The ruling is a departure from several previous decisions stating that manufacturers do not have a duty to warn of the dangers of a product that they do not make, supply or sell.
Nat'l environmental emergency due to asbestos exposure in South Africa
The location of a now-demolished blue asbestos mill and mine is being described is seeing 10 new cases of mesothelioma a year, which a local physician is describing as "wiping out entire families."
Judge dismisses 1,600 maritime asbestos cases
A federal judge has dismissed about 1,600 asbestos lawsuits filed by former merchant marines who allege that they were exposed to asbestos during the course of their employment and that they suffered irreversible harm as a result. The judge disagreed with that claim, stating that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient proof that their asbestos exposure had caused them significant injury, only showing that they had suffered physical impairment.
Could chemotherapy resistance worsen mesothelioma diagnosis?
It has long been known that nearly all cancer patients develop a certain degree of resistance to chemotherapy after receiving the treatment for varying periods of time. This means that for some patients, especially those that suffer from lung cancer and other forms that are prone to spreading, chemotherapy treatment can actually cause worse cancers to come back, leading to greater illness and, in many cases, death.
Illinois man sentenced for improper asbestos removal
Last week, we wrote about a man that had been charged with more than 30 violations of asbestos and environmental laws after allegedly failing to abide by state and federal regulations dictating how dangerous asbestos fibers must be removed. Now, we get a look at the other end of that criminal process with the news that an Illinois man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for failing to properly remove asbestos from a building.
Faulty asbestos removal leads to criminal charges
Imagine this scenario. You are unknowingly exposed to asbestos, and you learn of that exposure a few weeks after it occurs. Perhaps you were not familiar of the risks associated with asbestos prior to your exposure, but research after the fact informs you that you are now at a high risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or a host of other diseases. Unfortunately, those ailments often take decades to materialize, meaning that you will spend the next several years worrying about the future and angry about the events that got you to this place.
