After several years of lawsuits and settlement negotiations, it appears that the embattled residents of Libby, Montana, may soon see some progress in their ongoing asbestos case. According to media reports, mesothelioma attorneys for the Libby asbestos victims are working toward settlements with the companies that are responsible for the widespread asbestos exposure that has plagued the small town of Libby and its residents for decades.
Suit alleges failure to remove asbestos in residential renovations
A contractor is facing significant monetary fines and other legal consequences after failing to comply with the Clean Air Act while overseeing the renovation of three residential properties. The Attorney General's Office, which has filed the lawsuit against the man, is reportedly seeking fines of up to $25,000 for every day that the contractor failed to follow required asbestos cleanup procedures and safety precautions during the renovations
Does cigarette smoking reduce asbestos victims' legal rights?
Last month, a married couple filed an asbestos lawsuit against more than 85 companies. In the suit, the plaintiffs alleged that the companies were responsible for the 80-year-old husband's exposure to asbestos during his 30-year steel employment as an electrician and laborer, and that they were therefore also responsible for his mesothelioma diagnosis.
New blood test could diagnose mesothelioma earlier
Although researchers and medical professionals have known of mesothelioma and asbestos-related illnesses for many decades now, there is still a great deal that is not known about the disease. For example, diagnosing mesothelioma remains a complicated and difficult task that is made more challenging by the long length of time that generally passes between asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Asbestos concerns spur closure of former military training camp
After discovering "isolated surface deposits" of asbestos on the grounds of a former military training camp, the United States Forest Service has reportedly closed portions of the camp to visitors. It is not known how long it will take to clean up the asbestos contamination.
Former Navy employee files asbestos lawsuit
A man who was in the U.S. Navy and who worked for a private university for several years has filed a lawsuit against more than two dozen companies who he says are responsible for his asbestos-related illness and its consequential pain, medical expenses and loss of wages. Neither the Navy nor the university are named as defendants in the lawsuit, but solely the companies that produced, imported and sold the asbestos products.
EPA proposes strict asbestos cleanup standards (part two)
Last week, we began a discussion of the Environmental Protection Agency's recent proposal for the cleanup of asbestos in Libby, Montana, a former mining town in which at least half of the population - and most likely more - has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis and related diseases. The cause of those ailments is the town's proximity to the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine, which spread asbestos throughout the town for many of the 30 years it was in operation.
EPA proposes strict asbestos cleanup standards (part one)
In recent months, we have written multiple blog posts about the town of Libby, Montana, where 30 years of nearby vermiculite mining has caused the town to be coated with asbestos and hundreds of its residents to be diagnosed with and die of mesothelioma and related diseases.
Senate candidate defends asbestos lawsuit representation
It is an unfortunate reality that asbestos lawsuits now generally have a bad reputation. The plaintiffs that are genuinely suffering from mesothelioma and similar debilitating diseases are painted as selfish and opportunistic, simply because they choose to fight the people and companies whose greed and negligence caused them to contract those diseases.
