FACT Act Threatens Rights of Asbestos Victims and Families

The latest effort by asbestos companies to limit compensation to asbestos victims has begun. Asbestos companies have used their political influence to introduce a new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. While this won’t impact many of our past clients, if passed, it could hurt future victims of asbestos.

It is called the “Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act.” This bill will delay, and in some cases, deny justice and badly needed compensation to people suffering from asbestos-related diseases. It would be detrimental to future Simmons Firm client cases in two ways:

First, it would delay the process of bankruptcy claims and therefore delay compensation. Second, confidential information disclosed and gathered under this legislation would be used to help asbestos companies evade their liability for poisoning people.

Several asbestos victims are already taking steps to let their legislators know just how bad this bill is and how it will negatively impact people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. We hope you will join their efforts to ensure these companies will continue to be held responsible for their wrongdoings.

Make Your Voice Heard

If the FACT Act passes, mesothelioma victims would be on the losing end. Asbestos cancer victims need your help in standing up against the FACT Act. Please join the fight against the FACT Act by taking the following steps.

  1.   Sign the petition!

Go to www.CancerVictimsRights.org. You will see a “Take Action” button on the right side of the website. Click the button and follow the instructions. It only takes a few minutes to sign and send a message to your Congressional Representatives that you oppose the bill.

2.   Contact your U.S. Congressional Representative!

Call or e-mail your representative and tell them you oppose the FACT Act. Go to www.house.gov/representatives/find to find your senators’ and representatives’ contact information. By sending an e-mail or speaking to someone at their offices, you will showcase our public support for victims of asbestos.

3.   Support the campaign for asbestos cancer victims online!

Follow the campaign against the FACT Act online. If you are a member of Facebook, you can like the Cancer Victims’ Rights Campaign by going to the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CVRCampaign) and clicking the “like” button. If you are a member of Twitter, you can follow the campaign’s Twitter page (www.twitter.com/CVRCampaign) and click the “follow” button.

4.   Spread the word!

Share this information with your family and friends and ask them to repeat these four easy steps.

Honorees to Be Awarded at the 2013 ADAO Conference Dinner

As a new event on the agenda for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization 2013 Asbestos Awareness Conference, ADAO is proud to announce its Awards and Recognition Dinner. The dinner will take place March 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The cost is $100 and the event is open to the public.

At the dinner, ADAO will award conference honorees, including U.S. Representative Lois Capps, Dr. Celeste Monforton and Mavis Nye. These women are being honored for their contributions to asbestos awareness.

U.S. Representative Lois Capps is being presented with the Tribute of Hope Award for her unwavering commitment to public health and safety. Specifically, the political career of Mrs. Capps is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through better schools, a cleaner environment and the highest-quality healthcare. In regards to public health initiatives, Mrs. Capps has helped pass legislation to address the national nursing shortage, curb underage drinking, improve mental health services, improve the quality of our air and water, and more.

Dr. Celeste Monforton is being recognized at the awards and recognition dinner with the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of her firm commitment to increasing asbestos awareness in an effort to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. She is also a long-time supporter of ADAO.

Dr. Monforton is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health. She is chair of the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association.

Mavis Nye, a mesothelioma patient, will be recognized with the Alan Reinstein Award for her commitment to education, advocacy, and support to countless patients and families.

Other awards being presented include the following:

• Karen Banton will be presented with the Tribute of Inspiration Award for her untiring efforts to protect workers’ rights and seek justice for asbestos sufferers and their families.
• The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers will receive the Tribute of Unity Award for its relentless efforts, both nationally and internationally, to protect workers’ occupational safety and health.
• Rob Cagle, who tragically lost his battle with mesothelioma in 2011, will be recognized with the Alan Reinstein Award for his commitment to education, advocacy, and support to countless patients and families.
• Jordan Zevon, ADAO National Spokesperson, will be honored for his tireless dedication to ADAO.

During the ADAO Awards and Recognition dinner, the Simmons Firm will be recognized for its contributions and long-time support of ADAO. Full agenda information on the ADAO 2013 Asbestos Awareness Conference, including the Awards and Recognition dinner, can be found here.

The awards dinner is open to the public and will be held on March 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Click here for registration information.

Meso Foundation to Host Live Stream of 2013 Symposium

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s 2013 Symposium is an event for mesothelioma patients, survivors, and family and friends of victims. The event is an opportunity to gather together to raise awareness for the disease, discuss the latest news and developments, share stories and hear from mesothelioma experts.

The conference is being held at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas on March 7 and 8. However, it’s understandable that not everyone can travel to Las Vegas to attend the event in person, especially people currently suffering from mesothelioma and undergoing treatments. For those interested in taking part in the event who are not able to attend in person, the Meso Foundation will host a live stream of several sessions of the conference.

The Simmons Firm is proud to be a sponsor of the 2013 Meso Foundation Symposium, and urges all individuals who can’t travel but are interested in the event to view the live stream online. This live stream will feature portions of the conference agenda, including topics on:

• Genetics and mesothelioma
• Support panels for mesothelioma patients, caregivers and those who lost a loved one
• Legislative updates
• Details on research, new drugs, and clinical trials
• Fundraising information
• And more

The full live stream will be available for viewing here on March 7 and 8. While watching the conference through the live stream, viewers will also be able to participate in a live chat, discussing the topics and details with other viewers and members of the Meso Foundation staff.

The Meso Foundation staff will also be live tweeting throughout the event, so join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #curemeso.

For more information on the 2013 Meso Foundation Symposium, contact the Meso Foundation or visit CureMeso.org now.

Mesothelioma Symposium To Feature Popular Event Fundraising Session

Six Steps to Fundraise for Mesothelioma Research

In 2007, St. Louis resident Shelly Kozicki was the first person to start a named grant through the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in honor of her husband Craig who was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

In 2009, Craig passed away, but Shelly has continued the fight for both of them. This year she surpassed raising more than $250,000 for research during her Quartermania Fundraiser in October.

During last year’s Mesothelioma Symposium, she and Erica Ruble presented a session entitled, “The Six Steps of Fundraising.”  

Shelly told attendees that she took her anger and turned it into action. She hopes her story will motivate others to get involved as well. A summary of the session is outlined below.

Step 1 | Pick an Event Type

Pick an event that corresponds to the amount of time and work you can do. Writing a letter campaign and seeking donations from family and friends is much less time consuming than organizing a golf tournament or triva night.

Step 2 | Organize the Logistics

Pick your date, avoiding busy holidays, and set a budget. Remember you have to spend money to make money.

Step 3 | Choose a Venue

Location is a key factor. Is it easily accessible for everyone who you want to invite? Should you rent a hall or hold it in your home? Don’t forget about getting a venue contract and any other permits you might need.

Step 4 | Ask for Support

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family. Ask them to volunteer. Ask the Meso Foundation for help in organizing.  You’ll be surprised to find how much people do want to help. However, the sooner you ask for help in the process, the easier things will be.

Step 5 | Include a Money-Maker

A money-maker is a feature within your event that raises additional funds to benefit your charity. Examples include selling 50/50 raffle, hosting a silent auction, organizing a live auction, getting people to donate baskets to sell, making jello shots or having a drawing for a big ticket item.

Step 6 | Say Thank You

Thank everyone who donated time, money or resources. Thanking businesses who sponsored your event will make future requests easier. Also, don’t forget to share your success story!

Shelly and Erica’s session was so popular last year, symposium organizers asked them back. They will again present on Fundraising during the 2013 Mesothelioma Symposium from 3 to 4 p.m. PST, Friday, March 8 at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. If you can’t make it, don’t worry. This is one of the sessions that will be streamed live online.

Bridgeton Landfill Update: Firm Hosts Informational Meeting As Foul Smell Continues

Simmons Law Firm attorneys and staff will meet with concerned citizens again this coming Tuesday, Feb. 26, to share information about the offensive odors coming from the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Sports Café at 3579 Pennridge Dr., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

In recent weeks, residents have complained about horrible smells similar to that of dead animals coming from the Bridgeton Landfill. KMOV and other local news outlets have reported that landfill officials expect the smell to continue for several weeks while the landfill undergoes improvements.

The meeting will review residents’ legal rights as property owners and renters living near the landfill. Residents have reported experiencing side effects from the odor including headaches, watery eyes and migraines.

The odor could be linked to a landfill fire burning underneath the ground at the site. The odors have been linked to a fire at the St. Louis County landfill. This raises additional concerns as the Bridgton Landfill fire is believed to be located near radioactive waste dumped in the adjacent West Lake Landfill.

Simmons Firm attorneys will discuss safety concerns surrounding the bad smells coming from the St. Louis Landfill fire and what residents can do to protect their legal rights. 

If you live in the Bridgeton area and are concerned about the health impacts of the Bridgeton Landfill, please contact the Simmons Firm for more information.

ADAO Conference Focuses on the Asbestos Crisis and Prevention

Asbestos exposure contributes as the leading cause of serious conditions like mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, yet its use is not banned in the United States. As the “voice of the victims”, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has announced the agenda for the 9th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference that will take place on March 22 – 24 in Washington D.C. 

The theme for the 2013 conference is “The Asbestos Crisis: New Trends in Prevention and Treatment” and will feature more than 30 notable experts and asbestos victims who will present information on the latest advancements in disease prevention, global advocacy and mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease treatments.

The primary four sessions of the 2013 conference will cover the following topics:

• Medical Advancements (the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases)
• Patients & Caregivers Information (guidance on mesothelioma treatment and medical issues)
• Prevention (issues related to preventing mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases that are caused from asbestos exposure)
• Advocacy (Global Ban Asbestos Action)

The event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 23 with registration and a continental breakfast, concluding for the day at 5 p.m. Sunday’s sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at 11:30 a.m. View the full conference agenda now.

ADAO is the largest independent asbestos victims’ organization in the U.S. and strives to give asbestos victims and their loved ones a voice and the ability to raise public awareness on the dangers of asbestos. The Simmons Firm is the longest consecutive supporter of ADAO and is a platinum sponsor of the 2013 conference.

Keynote speakers for the event include Dr. Aubrey Miller on Saturday, March 23. Miller is Senior Medical Advisor and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Liaison to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sunday’s keynote speaker will be Karen Banton, widow of the late activist Bernie Banton and CEO of the Bernie Banton Foundation.

Registration is open now through March 1. Register for the 9th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference today.

ADAO Candle Lighting Events to Honor Mesothelioma Warriors

A candle is a symbol of comfort shining through the darkness. On Friday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Jan. 4 the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will hold an Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR) mesothelioma group tradition by urging all to “light a candle” both virtually and in our homes to honor Mesothelioma Warriors. 

The December 28 Candle Lighting

The lighting on Dec. 28 will be held in memory of these Mesothelioma Warriors who lost their lives to the deadly cancer. This ceremony will take place to reflect and renew the inner strength of all those affected by a loved one who lost their battle with mesothelioma. For those who choose, online messages may be written to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration to others.

The December 28 ceremony will involve four candle lightings: one for grief, one for courage, one for memories and one for love. You can light your virtual candle here, following these steps:

LIGHT THE FIRST CANDLE:  “The light of this first candle represents our grief. The pain of losing you is intense. It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.”

LIGHT THE SECOND CANDLE: “The light of this second candle represents the courage it takes to confront our sorrow, to comfort each other, to change our lives.”

LIGHT THE THIRD CANDLE: “This third candle is a light to all of our memories of you. To the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry with each other, the silly things you did, the caring and the joy you gave us.”

LIGHT THE FOURTH CANDLE: “This fourth candle is the light of our love. As we go forward, day by day we cherish the special place in our hearts that will always be reserved for you. We thank you for the gift your life brought to each of us. We love you always.”

The January 4 Candle Lighting

The candle lighting on Friday, Jan. 4 will take place to honor and support current Mesothelioma Warriors who are still fighting the disease and who serve as an inspiration to the entire mesothelioma community. The lighting of four candles will involve the following steps:

LIGHT THE FIRST CANDLE: Remind us of love

LIGHT THE SECOND CANDLE: Renew our hope

LIGHT THE THIRD CANDLE: Give us courage

LIGHT THE FOURTH CANDLE: Strengthen our pledge to continue

Join the cause to honor mesothelioma victims and current warriors. Light your candles on December 28 and January 4, either virtually or in your home. For more information on the Mesothelioma Warriors being honored, view this list.