The mesothelioma lawyers at the Firm have brought together some of this month’s headlines, offering information on asbestos exposure, mesothelioma research, and support.
- Proposed Budget Cuts Could Impact Public Health:
As reported by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), “The U.S. Administration has announced a new budget that will significantly decrease funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government agencies.” Cutting the EPA’s budget by 1/3, the impact of these cuts may result in a reduction in critical environment and health programs, halt updates to existing protective guidance, and eliminate the fibers program activities. In their posting, the ADAO warns that more than 10,000 Americans die every year from preventable asbestos-caused diseases, and is concerned of the negative impact these cuts will have on the health and safety of the American public. - Hidden Killer Campaign:
In effort to raise continued awareness about the negative effects of asbestos exposure, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an awareness campaign entitled the “Hidden Killer.” According to the HSE, research indicates a number of tradespeople, including plumbers, electricians, joiners, tradesmen, and construction workers, are uninformed about the risks they face. The objective of the Hidden Killer campaign is to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos and to encourage tradesmen to take positive action in educating and protecting themselves. - Optimism Surrounding Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment Case Study:
During a recent case study, a patient with Stage II pleural mesothelioma responded positively to chemotherapy prior to surgery. While it is important to note this is not a typical response, it demonstrates the potential ability of chemotherapy to eradicate the tumor. - Mesothelioma Victims Deserve Better Than Wasteful Legal Maneuvers:
This Los Angeles Times article reviews the tactics used by asbestos industry lawyers. Citing the case of Michael Hiltzik, a Marine veteran and mesothelioma patient, the article asks the question, “Did asbestos industry lawyers deliberately drive Johnson to his death by putting him through a brutal series of depositions so their clients would save money?” According to the Los Angeles Times, Johnson’s family, lawyers and doctors believe that defense attorneys intentionally used “’delay tactics and stalling,’ in the expectation that he would die before he reached the finish line.” - Fred Couples Designates Portion of the Presidents Cup Proceeds to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation:
Fred Couples, a 15-time PGA TOUR event winner and six-time Champions Tour event winner, recently designated $25,000 of the proceeds from The Presidents Cup golf tournament to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation). The President Cup does not offer a cash prize to participants. Instead, team captains allocate certain portions of the proceeds to charitable causes. The Meso Foundation is a leading organization, dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma as a form of life ending cancer. In addition to funding peer-reviewed mesothelioma research, the Meso foundation offers personalized and up-to-date information to patients and their families. - Crucial Supreme Court Ruling in "Take-Home" Asbestos Case:
An Illinois Supreme Court ruling offers a mesothelioma law firm, the Firm, a chance to prove in court that a railroad had a duty of care to a Granite City woman who died of cancer. The women allegedly died of asbestos related cancer after her husband brought home toxic dust on his work clothing. According to Ted Gianaris, a partner in The Firm, "The implications are great and very important.” This ruling upholds precedence in Illinois case law that employers have a duty to warn the immediate family members of their employees who are at risk of being exposed to asbestos.
