In Memory of Our Friend and Colleague, Peggie Castruita

Today our hearts go out to the family of Peggie Castruita, our friend and colleague, who passed away on Friday.

Peggie joined the firm on June 27, 2001 and spent her years with us speaking with patients and families affected by mesothelioma on a regular basis. In fact, I'd venture to say that Peggie spoke with more of our clients than anyone. She cared very much about what she did, and I know our clients felt that.

Peggie, we'll miss you.

A Look Back on 2009

Working day-to-day, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. For that reason, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on all we’ve achieved this past year: the battles we’ve won, the projects we’ve spearheaded, and the goals we’ve reached.

There have been a number of factors that made 2009 an important year for our firm. In July, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade, I’ve taken great pride in the work of our dedicated attorneys and staff who have committed themselves to serving the victims of mesothelioma. Through their efforts, we’ve reached thousands of patients and their families and helped fight for their rights as they’ve faced this preventable, life-ending illness.

As part of our 10-year anniversary celebration, we made the decision to change the name of our firm. As Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC, we will continue to build our legacy as one of the nation’s leading advocates for the victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This new name reflects the strong leadership role taken by four of our partners, Perry Browder, Ted Gianaris, Michael Angelides, and John Barnerd. But since we know this new name is a mouthful, we’ll be more casually known as the Simmons firm.

Earlier in 2009 we had a further expansion of our partnership with the addition of six new partners. Each of these individuals continue to bring extensive experience in asbestos litigation to our clients. 

In 2009, we redoubled our ongoing efforts to raise awareness about mesothelioma and work to improve life within our community. As part of that effort, we sponsored the very first “Miles for Meso,” a 5K run/walk to raise money for mesothelioma research.  This inaugural event raised approximately $30,000 and drew nearly 500 participants.

I was also incredibly proud of the work done by Simmons employees outside of the workplace to help those in need. During the summer, the Simmons Employee Foundation (SEF) held a dinner auction which generated over $150,000 to support a variety of local charitable organizations. In November, the SEF held an annual food drive, collecting more than 50,000 pounds of food for Madison County pantries. Even in this climate of economic uncertainty, Simmons employees made generous donations that speak to their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

It’s this spirit of service and commitment that we’ll be taking into the new year. As we move into 2010, we’ll continue to fight for the rights of patients and their families. We’ll work to raise awareness about mesothelioma, generate funds for research, and call for legislation banning the use of asbestos. We are grateful for 2009, and look forward to the challenges of the coming year.

Have a safe and happy holiday. See you in the new year.

ADAO Announces 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference

Next spring our friends at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization will host their sixth annual conference in Chicago. I spoke with Linda Reinstein, Executive Director for ADAO, and she told me this year's program promises to be the strongest conference to date. The speaker list will feature renowned asbestos and mesothelioma experts such as Dr. Hedy Kindler. No doubt members of the Simmons firm will be in attendance to show support. Details on how you can register are included below. 

Register for the 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference

April 9 - 11, 2010

Marriott Renaissance Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

Global Mission: Prevent, Detect and Treat Asbestos-Related Diseases

"Science and Technology Proves Asbestos is a Carcinogen"

This conference is made possible with the support and collaborative efforts of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS).

Registration Fee:   

Professionals: $300

Students/Patients/Caregivers: $150

Sunday Remembrance Brunch: $25 with conference registration/$50 without conference registration

Agenda Session Topics Include

• Preventing Asbestos Exposure
• Detecting and Treating Asbestos-Related Diseases
• Asbestos Victim and Family Resources and Support
• Global Advocacy

Conference Speakers

Brad Black, MD

Barry Castleman, ScD

Jeff Camplin, CSP, CPEA

Sean Fitzgerald, PG

Arthur Frank, MD, PhD

Patrick Gerkin, PhD

Fernanda Giannasi, ABREA

Michael Harbut, MD, MPH, FCCP

Tanis Hernandez, LCSW

Laurie Kazan-Allen, IBAS

Hedy Lee Kindler, MD

Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH

Terry Lynch, Int'l Vice President, Insulators Union

Pat Martin, Canadian Parliament Member

Linda Reinstein, ADAO

Kimberly Rowse, RN

Jordan Summers, Musician

James Webber, PhD

Jordan Zevon, ADAO National Spokesperson and Musician 

ADAO Asbestos Awareness Day Honorees

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin will be presented with the Tribute of Hope Award for his steadfast commitment and determination to ban asbestos.

The Center for Asbestos Related Disease Center (CARD) will receive the Tribute of Unity Award for their work to unite, educate and empower asbestos victims and medical community.

Dr. Hedy Kindler will be recognized with Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Acheivement Award in honor of Dr. Selikoff's dedicated research into the social and medical impact asbestos has had on humankind.

Fernanda Giannasai will be presented with teh Tribute of Inspiration Award for being a bridge of hope and strength to victims of asbestos exposure in India and worldwide.

Warren Zevon "Keep me in Your Heart" Memorial Award - TBA

June Breit, honored posthumously, The Alan Reinstein Memorial Award for her commitment to advocacy to eradicate mesothelioma and offer support to patients and their families. 

Conference Schedule

Friday, April 9th

NEW! Private Gathering for Family, Patients, & Caregivers Only

5-6 p.m.

Meet and Greet  with Jordan Zevon

7-9pm

Saturday, April 10th

Conference

8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 11th

Remembrance Brunch

9:30-11:30am

On Sunday ADAO will light five candles at 10:30 a.m. CST for victims throughout and around the world.

Simmons Employee Foundation Gives 50,000 Pounds of Food Goes to Madison County Food Pantries

On Friday the Simmons firm, through the efforts of the Simmons Employee Foundation, completed its annual food drive, raising over 50,000 pounds of food for Madison County food pantries. Today we're delivering that food to four different shelters throughout the county: 

Crisis Food Center in Alton
Collinsville Area Ministerial Association
Community Care Center in Granite City
Community Hope Center in Cottage Hills

Thank you to our employees that opened their hearts and wallets to give back. Thank you to those who worked up a sweat to load the trucks. And thank you to all of these food pantries for the critical, life changing work you do.

I can't think of a more satisfying way to start the week of Thanksgiving. 

Remembering Ernie Conry

We lost one hell of a fighter and good man this week. Ernest Conry, a husband, father and friend to many, lost his battle with mesothelioma on September 18, 2009. He passed away at his home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ernie lived with pleural mesothelioma for over 7 years. His resilience against the disease is truly a testament to the power of a positive attitude. He was always quick with a joke and happy to spread the cheer. For years he attended the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation's annual symposium, where he took it as his mission to bring a bit of laughter to the many families and patients in pain.

Ernie once said, "The thing to do is get up and do something. Don’t let the cancer bog you down. Wait until someday it might bog you down, but my God, if you are still moving, keep moving. Go on about like you don’t have a disease. So the thing to do is get up and do something. Keep moving and enjoy it. You know, take the life that you have going for yourself and make use of it."

Born in 1933 in Tennessee, Ernie moved to St. Louis as a child. He entered the automotive field at age 17, becoming an apprentice auto mechanic at a Ford dealership. He was drafted into the army in 1953, and arrived in Inchon, Korea, six months after the armistice had been signed. From 1950 to 1998, when he retired on a union pension, Ernie worked consistently as a mechanic at a series of Ford dealerships.

Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, he took it upon himself to visit St. Louis area union halls and mechanic shops, distributing literature about the dangers of asbestos. He gave numerous seminars to our staff here at the firm. He taught us a lot - not just about asbestos in the auto industry, but about strength, character and resilience.

Ernie gave freely of himself, and all he ever expected in return was the pleasure of good company. He was a wonderful man. And he will be dearly missed.

Kansas City Family Affected by Mesothelioma Makes Headlines, Fights On

Earlier this year the family of Wendell Mason, who died of mesothelioma, was featured on the local NBC station in Kansas City about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos exposure in the home.  Last week the Masons returned to the news in an article titled "Confronting the Needless Tragedy of Mesothelioma." The article was by Thomas Bogdon and appeared on the online news site KCTribune.com.

The good news, as cited in the article, is that the city of Olathe, Kansas, proclaimed September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day, thanks in part to the work of Elizabeth Mason and her two grown daughters and grown son. This is an important achievement, and I applaud the Masons for their dedication to building awareness.

The bad news, as I told Mr. Bogdon when he interviewed me for this article, is that asbestos - a carcinogen known to cause mesothelioma - continues to be imported into the U.S. The need for research and better treatment options continues to remain urgent and dire for the thousands of families currently fighting against the disease.

I applaud Mr. Bogdon for covering this difficult subject in such a thoughtful and compassionate manner. The Masons are a courageous family, and it's wonderful to see their hard work pay off.  

Miles for Meso on KSDK NewsChannel 5 St. Louis with Jennifer Blome

Earlier today Jennifer Blome of NewsChannel 5, KSDK, the St. Louis NBC affiliate, spoke with Julie Gundlach about mesothelioma awareness and the Miles for Meso 5K runs/walks this weekend in Alton, Illinois, and in St. Louis in October.  Julie is a St. Louis resident who has been living with peritoneal mesothelioma since she was diagnosed at age 35 three years ago and has been supporting the Alton event and spearheading the St. Louis effort. You can see the conversation here.

Julie did an excellent job articulating the critical need for mesothelioma research, the dangers of asbestos exposure, and how events like Miles for Meso can help bring the necessary awareness.

It's exciting to see Miles for Meso come to life. But it's even more exciting to see the event help generate the attention mesothelioma deserves. The Simmons firm has represented thousands of families across the country affected by mesothelioma. We've seen the devestation it causes firsthand. This is why we've committed ourselves to leading the fight for the legal rights of victims. It's why we support mesothelioma research throughout the country. 

If you haven't registered for Miles for Meso yet, there's still time. I'd encourage you to participate in both the Alton race and the St. Louis race (we've had over 400 register for Alton alone!). One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit mesothelioma research.

See you on race day.