Larry grew up in New England, where his father worked in a paper factory for nearly 40 years. With neither one of them realizing the dangers of asbestos, Larry would hug his dad when he got home from work each night.

Larry was told his dad died of emphysema. But after Larry was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006, he began to wonder if that rare and fatal form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure is what had actually taken his father.

Mesothelioma attorney Ted Gianaris explains that secondhand (or “take-home”) exposure tends to be less concentrated than exposure in the workplace:

“It seems as though the data shows that people who had lower exposures take longer to develop mesothelioma, so we’ve seen a lot of family and children of workers exposed in the home, people exposed as bystanders, and we didn’t see that as much 10 years ago.”

Asbestos-related diseases usually progress slowly and steadily spread over a lifetime. A mesothelioma diagnosis can unfortunately catch victims of secondhand asbestos exposure completely off guard.

Like many other mesothelioma victims, when Larry was first diagnosed, he was told he had only six months to live. The doctors gave him chemotherapy and radiation in keeping with the traditional approach to mesothelioma treatment. Unfortunately, in Larry’s case, his treatment plan seemed to cause more problems than benefits.

Larry lost about 60 pounds in a month. He had five surgeries, almost died from infections, spent six months in bed waiting for a surgery incision to heal and had to use an ostomy bag for a year. Eventually, the pain and discomfort became so severe that Larry decided to defy his doctor’s orders and no longer undergo radiation treatment or take chemotherapy drugs.

Once he felt strong enough, Larry began the one therapy that made sense to him — he went running again.

“They gave me a death sentence. I proved them wrong. I did the opposite of what they said to do, and that’s why I’m still here. Sometimes individuals have to take responsibility for their own well-being.”

– Larry Davis, Mesothelioma Warrior

Throughout Larry’s mesothelioma treatments, his daughter Courtney was by his side. Although Larry and Courtney’s mother split up when she was young and she lived with her mom, Courtney and her father remained close.

“He was there for everything — sports games, my graduation. He’d come pick me up and we’d spend weekends together.”

– Courtney Davis, Daughter of Larry Davis

From an early age, Courtney ran alongside her dad in various fun runs and 5Ks. She watched him run in the longer road races all over New England and New York.

Due to their bond, it was devastating for Courtney to see her dad wasting away from mesothelioma. But just like they had always done, they kept doing everything together — including fighting Larry’s disease, as well as fighting against the deadly public health threat that is asbestos.

Although many think asbestos is banned in the United States, it is not. The toxic material remains legal, despite the well-known dangers of asbestos exposure. It is still used to this day in various applications, particularly in the construction industry.

“I sat with a senator in Washington and asked him to help ban asbestos. He said, ‘We banned it.’ I said, ‘No, you haven’t.’ His aide googled it and said, ‘you know, we almost passed it in ’89, but a federal judge overturned it.’”

– Larry Davis, Mesothelioma Warrior

Perhaps even more upsetting is that manufacturers of asbestos-containing products have been aware of the health risks as early as the 1930s. However, in an appalling corporate cover-up, companies continued to manufacture and sell asbestos products, knowingly putting financial gain ahead of the lives of workers and consumers.

“As my father deteriorated, I cried when no one could see[,] for him and for this disease that was taking him from me. Something that could be prevented. Something that the U.S. Congress could put a stop to going forward. There needs to be a complete ban on asbestos use all over the world, not just here in America.”

– Courtney Davis, Daughter of Larry Davis

However, instead of giving up, Larry joined forces with two foundations that have taken on the task of improving treatment options for mesothelioma patients and fighting for a total ban — the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).

“Larry was a determined warrior and untiring advocate for finding a cure for mesothelioma.”

– Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

Larry was named Volunteer of the Year by the Meso Foundation for his advocacy work, including his efforts to bring awareness to politicians who still think asbestos has been fully banned.

He was also a longtime friend and strong supporter of the ADAO, which considered Larry a true hero and presented him with its prestigious Alan Reinstein Memorial Award for his commitment to education, advocacy and support to countless patients and their families.

In addition to his volunteer and advocacy work, Larry also organized the South Florida Miles for Meso 8K Run/4K Walk in Boca Raton, Florida every year from 2010 to 2012, raising more than $100,000 for the Meso Foundation. He also put together the South Florida Miles for Meso Symposium, where friends, physicians and advocates gathered to help spread awareness.

Larry spent much of his time fundraising for mesothelioma research and trying to help everyone affected by asbestos-related diseases. Even though he was battling the debilitating disease himself, he took the fight against mesothelioma to the streets and made a difference in so many lives.

“[On Miles for Meso] We are going to have a tribute, but we’re not going to be there to mourn. We’re here to get on with life and come up with solutions, because we’re not getting any help from politicians and the government.”

– Larry Davis, Mesothelioma Warrior

Larry Davis kept running right up until the end. In 2011, after completing a Father’s Day triathlon with his daughter, Larry went in for a major surgery to remove some large tumors. Tragically, the surgery was not as successful as his family had hoped, and Larry passed away about a year later.

Over the course of his six-year battle with mesothelioma, the cost of Larry’s medical treatment grew seemingly insurmountable. Travel costs for visits to a cancer specialist can add up quickly, not to mention the chemotherapy drugs, radiation, and surgical procedures. Thankfully, Larry reached out to Simmons Hanly Conroy, and through legal action, he and his family recovered the compensation they needed to pay for all the medical bills that their insurance company would not cover.

Filing an asbestos lawsuit can allow mesothelioma patients and their families to secure compensation for their future and to fight back against the companies responsible for their disease. Our mesothelioma lawyers are passionate about helping mesothelioma victims and their families fight for their right to be heard within the civil justice system.