August 27, 2009
A couple in Illinois was recently awarded $2 million in a settlement after filing suit for asbestos exposure in the workplace. The husband claimed he developed mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to asbestos while working at various jobs for three decades.
As a result of his exposure, the man reportedly developed pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that affects the lining of the chest and is centralized in the pleural cavity. As with other forms of mesothelioma, this cancer is mainly caused inhaling or consuming asbestos fibers. The disease often has no symptoms and someone who develops it can live with the illness without knowing for 20 years or more. By the time pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed, it is often too late for anything to be done and it typically results in death.
Lawsuit Details
William Willis, 69, worked several part-time jobs as a handyman. During this time, he also worked nightshifts as an employee of the Postal Service. The lawsuit named a variety of defendants and claimed they each played a part in his illness. Willis and his wife stated in the lawsuit that at each job he worked with products such as pipes and joint compounds that contained asbestos. However, there were no warning signs on any of them about the risks of asbestos.
After a trial that lasted nearly a month, the jury held Bondex International, Inc., the makers of a joint compound that contains asbestos responsible for Willis’ illness. Willis was awarded $1.5 million in damages and his wife was awarded $500,000 for emotional stress and loss of companionship.
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Posted by Dave Austin
August 25, 2009
A lawsuit was recently filed by the wife of a former employer of Woolworths department story for his alleged exposure to asbestos during his career. After her husband passed away from an asbestos related illness, the widow decided to file a suit against her husband’s former employer for the suffering they both endured as a result of his illness.
The deceased was reportedly sick for 18 months but had only received a mesothelioma diagnosis from his doctor. However, the disease known as mesothelioma, which is mainly caused by exposure to asbestos, eventually took his life. Diagnosing this type of cancer is supposedly difficult for doctors to do at this point in time since it can be hard to detect symptoms. In certain cases, there can also be no symptoms at all. Patients can also start experiencing symptoms far after their exposure to the toxic substance, as late as 50 years later, giving them little time left to do anything about their illness.
Widow Takes Action
Verna Sarieant took action against her husband Les’ former employer Woolworths soon after he passed away from the illness. Les Sarienant was reportedly hired by the retail store when he was only 16-years-old. Though he made several moves throughout the country for personal reasons, Les continued to work at the store in various parts of America.
At the age of 74, he received a mesothelioma diagnosis and he, along with his wife, believed his former employer was responsible for exposing him to asbestos. During his employment he worked in the stockroom where asbestos was used in abundance for shipping and in the covers used for ironing boards, which he worked with almost daily. A former colleague of Les’ has also confirmed that asbestos was used during their day to day work. According to Verna, Les was experiencing breathing problems years before he was diagnosed. Verna is hopeful Woolworths will accept responsibility for their wrongdoing and the case will be settled sooner than later.
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Posted by Dave Austin
August 19, 2009
Each day the men and women that serve our country not only put their lives on the line in battle, but they are also fighting asbestos-related illnesses as a result of their time at war. Asbestos exposure in war times has been an ongoing problem in the United States for decades, and both current soldiers and veterans are now dealing with the aftermath of being exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos is a cancer causing substance that in previous years was used in construction, at shipyards, and in various other manufacturing fields. Exposure through inhalation has been linked to life-threatening illnesses like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Exposure Through the Years Asbestos exposure in veterans of war has gained significant attention since the shipbuilding efforts took place during World War II.
According to reports, about 3,000 cases of mesothelioma were reported each year in the U.S. A majority of these cases reportedly involved men and women who had been exposed while in the military. During the war, many were employed at shipyards and worked extensively in military construction, which is to blame for their exposure to asbestos and other harmful chemicals. However, risk for exposure didn’t come to an end with WWII. Instead, exposure continued, and some fear still continues, as many of these veterans got jobs at shipyards and construction sites after deployment seeing as these are the fields in which they had experience.
Reports also claim that those who are deployed overseas are at special risk of exposure since other countries, such as Iraq and Iran, still widely use asbestos as one of their main building materials. China and Russia are also two of the world’s top asbestos consumers.
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Posted by Dave Austin
August 17, 2009
A plumber who developed mesothelioma as a result of his asbestos exposure was recently compensated for his illness. The man reportedly worked in a number of hospitals throughout England and America during his career. It was in many of the older hospitals that asbestos was discovered, which had not been removed as was legally required.
Alan Ward, 61, was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to the toxic mold, asbestos. During his time working as a maintenance man in hospitals, he says he removed several pipes and boilers that were covered in a material he was unfamiliar with. It wasn’t until later in life, and he was assured through the diagnosis, that he realized this dust-like substance was asbestos.
Suit Filed and Justice Served
Ward claims that during his career he was never given any protection to wear or warned about the risks associated with the job. Exposure to asbestos, when inhaled or ingested, can cause the lungs and organs in the body to become clogged. As a result, mesothelioma and other forms of cancer can develop.
When Ward was given 18 months to live (he has now lived two years, which is rare with this form of cancer), he decided to take action and file a lawsuit on behalf of all of the other workers who were exposed. The court found Ward’s former employees guilty of negligence and he has been awarded $290,000 in the settlement. He says that although his life right now is a constant struggle, the compensation brings about justice and will enable him to live a bit more comfortably in what could be his last months.
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Posted by Dave Austin
August 14, 2009
The family of a deceased steel factory worker recently settled a lawsuit in South Carolina after a jury found the worker’s former employer to blame for his sudden death. The man whose life was taken too early, according to family and friends, reportedly worked closely with asbestos and other toxins in the factory, and as a result developed a life-threatening illness.
A Richland County jury ruled in favor of his family who filed the suit against the factory. The lawsuit claims the company, Garlock Sealing Technology, Inc. was negligent in warning their workers that the materials and substances they were working with day to day could be deadly and put them and their families at risk.
Steel Worker Exposed to Asbestos
Thomas Firth worked at Garlock Sealing in the 1950’s while also working as a mechanic’s assistant for Bethlehem Steel, Sparrow Point factory in Maryland. During this time, asbestos was commonly used in steel factories, along with other manufacturing factories, throughout the country. Later in life, Firth developed mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer mainly caused by exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma attacks the lungs and the lining of the chest and is has a latency period of about 20 to 40 years in most people. Therefore, Firth wasn’t diagnosed with the disease until just a few years ago and his life was taken on July 13, 2007. The Firth family was awarded $700,000 in the settlement for their loss and Firth’s loss of enjoyment of life in the months leading up to his death.
Even though asbestos is banned in America due to its toxic nature, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims the number of asbestos related deaths continues to rise each year. They even expect this number to peak in 2010.
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Posted by laurenbr
August 12, 2009
The community of Brentwood recently voiced their concern regarding the workplace safety of the Liberty Union High School District. Until only recently, the school district’s health and safety was reportedly small with teachers and other school employees receiving no real representation or involvement of the workplace safety guidelines.
It’s reported that Liberty Union High School’s health and safety committee was only made up of two maintenance workers and a group of school administrators until a recent settlement voted that the committee needs to also consist of a certificated and classified employee from each school.
Why the Concern?
According to reports, in December of 2005, former Liberty High School English teacher, Tanya Smith, was exposed to asbestos while on campus. Asbestos is a toxic mold that was once used for building but has since been made illegal. Smith says she told school officials about the exposure and made it a point to explain that other employees, as well as the students were also at risk of cancers like mesothelioma. The school district was in violation of state and federal laws by improperly removing and disposing of the floor tiles which contained the asbestos.
However, after informing school officials, Smith says they dismissed her claims and did nothing about the problem. Smith then went to California’s branch of OHSA and says her complaints were consistently transferred to other schools and she was told she was being a “nuisance.” In the end, the state of California found the districts to be in violation and fined Smith’s school and others for being in violation of the law. Smith also filed a lawsuit against the district stating her employer broke state labor laws that prevented employers from punishing those who were so called “whistle-blowing.” She has since settled out of court and the asbestos problems within the district have been exposed. The state has now taken over to take care of the issue.
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Posted by laurenbr
August 5, 2009
A lawsuit was recently filed by a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year. The suit was filed against BAE Land Systems and it claims the man was exposed to asbestos fibers while working at the company. Asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis when inhaled or ingested.
David Armistead, 60, filed the suit against BAE Land Systems, which is a defense, security, and aerospace company. The lawsuit claims that the company did not provide proper protection against asbestos and as a result Armistead and the other employees were wrongfully exposed to the cancerous fibers. Armistead claims he and the other employees were never warned of the dangers of asbestos while they worked hands-on with the mineral at BAE Systems’ Barrow Shipyard.
Man Becomes Sick While Working at Shipyard
Armistead first started working at the shipyard in 1965 where he spent the majority of his time working at the machine and engine shops. According to reports, both shops were lined with asbestos on the roofs and walls.
After his time in the shops, Armistead went on to work on the construction of a submarine where he worked closely with other workers who were mixing and applying asbestos covering. The shipyard is a huge facility that is most noted for creating the United Kingdom’s first submarine.
In January of 2008, Armistead discovered he had malignant mesothelioma, which is a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The suit claims that as a result of his illness, Armistead has experienced a loss of enjoyment of life. Armistead is seeking more than $500,000 in the lawsuit.
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Posted by laurenbr
August 4, 2009
A legal settlement was recently reached in Vermont regarding the cleanup and future monitoring of a former asbestos mine. According to many, the cleanup is long overdue.
The site reportedly has two piles of mine and mills that are eroding and posing a great deal of harm to the downstream creeks in the area. The piles are located on what is known as one of the 12 Linden sites that exist up and down the East Coast. The U.S. Department of Justice and the state of Vermont reached the settlement with New Jersey company, G-I Holdings, Inc., a private company that manufactures roofing materials. The legal filings claim the site has posed a threat to the health of the public and the surrounding environment.
Settlement Details
The settlement reached requires G-I Holdings to take immediate steps to fence and secure the 1,673 acre site. The company also has to monitor the area at all times to ensure it is not causing any harm to the people or environment. G-I, who filed bankruptcy in 2001, will reimburse the federal government along with the state a total of $25.8 million for past and future cleanup costs of the site.
In recent years, the piles have attracted hikers, rock collectors, and those looking to take out their ATVs for some off-roading. Without knowing it, these locals who have taken to this area of Vermont for recreational purposes have been exposing themselves to asbestos fibers. As a result, they are now at risk for serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Although, the settlement hopes to raise awareness about the prevalence of asbestos that still exists in many parts of the country.
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Posted by laurenbr
August 3, 2009
A lawsuit was recently against Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas by a former employer who claims he and his son became sick while at the resort. The suit, which was filed for $10 million, claims Harrah’s exposed Ernie Savannah and his three-year-old son Nico to asbestos.
According to reports, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had warned the resort several about their violations involving asbestos. As an employee, Savannah says he watched as the hotel did nothing knowing the hotel was making people sick. Well it wasn’t until his own son began coughing and wheezing like he has for the past couple of years that Savannah decided he needed to take action.
“I knew it was asbestos, and I continued to work there because I needed the insurance and income for my family,” stated Savannah to reporters.
Father and Son Sick From Asbestos Exposure
Medical reports for the Savannah’s claim Ernie has signs and symptoms related with asbestos exposure. Doctors also say Nico has, and will have, difficulty breathing due to second hand asbestos exposure.
Savannah believes the asbestos fibers he brought home on his clothing are the cause for Nico’s exposure and problems breathing.
Lawsuit Exposes Major Resort
Savannah went public with his million dollar lawsuit against the big-whig Vegan hotel claiming that for many years they knowingly put their guests and employees in danger. The suit also claims the hotel and casino failed to protect its workers.
The OSHA inspection reports show Harrah’s made 12 violation, among them failure to protest employees who were performing asbestos operations. Upon further inspection, the OSHA also claims Harrah’s put guests and workers at risk for asbestos related illnesses such as:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
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Posted by laurenbr
