Rabu, 04 Agustus 2010

The Explosion Of Mesothelioma

The explosion of mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers in the U.S. and abroad has created law firms that fight for victims' rights to recover damages caused by alleged corporate disregard for human life and well-being in the name of profits.


A Brief History
This corporate malfeasance becomes horribly clear when it is understood that the toxic properties of asbestos have been known and documented since the days of the Roman Empire. The Romans were fascinated by the "magic mineral" that would not burn, yet could be woven into fabric like cotton or wool. Patricians knew the price of working with the substance, however; what the modern world knows as asbestos-related illness was called "The Slaves' Disease" by those in ancient Rome.

The modern history of asbestos litigation starts in the late 19th Century. After half a century of asbestos manufacture and use as a building material, physicians were starting to see increasing numbers of respiratory illnesses among those who worked with asbestos. By 1897, a medical study by doctors in Italy identified asbestos dust as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory disease in a community of asbestos weavers. The same cause and effect was identified in British asbestos factories during the first ten years of the 20th Century.

By the 1920's, studies in the U.S. showed that asbestos workers were dying prematurely at a significantly higher rate than the general population, and by 1940, it was clear that asbestos exposure was the cause behind such deaths. Nonetheless, this information was suppressed by corporations for another quarter-century. After a 1977 discovery of what came to be known as "The Asbestos Pentagon Papers" at the corporate headquarters of the Raybestos-Manhattan Company however, the truth could no longer be hidden.

Since that time, well over six hundred thousand court actions have been taken against asbestos manufacturers as well as companies who used asbestos products, allowing the rights of victims to hold them accountable has so far been upheld.
While there are many mesothelioma law firms able to competently represent a plaintiff in a case, it is worthwhile to do some due diligence. Because of the long latency period of malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of asbestos related disease, it requires a great deal of specialized knowledge and research in order to build a strong case. Often, gathering supporting evidence is a challenge; for this reason, it is best to choose your representation a mesothelioma law firm that has had a great deal of experience in asbestos litigation.

The fact is, successfully winning a plaintiff judgment in a mesothelioma case requires meticulous, time consuming research and the testimony of very specific witnesses. As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma has a long latency period - symptoms may not appear for twenty to forty years after initial exposure. In that time period, businesses go under or are acquired by other businesses; memories become uncertain; witnesses disappear.

An increasing number of mesothelioma lawyers are building and maintaining databases of information related to the asbestos industry, including digital archives of old documents, photographs, depositions and court records, and examples of case law and precedent. If the law firm you are considering has access to such a database, it is a good indication that they will be able to represent you successfully.
Before deciding upon legal representation, learn about the attorney's experience. How many mesothelioma cases has s/he handled? In how many of these cases did the judge find for the plaintiff? Will s/he be handling the case personally, or does s/he have a network of attorneys that will be able to help you? Is s/he or the firm willing to represent you on a contingency basis? Will your case stand alone, or will it be part of a group action?

Remember that monetary awards if any, in mesothelioma claims can very greatly. For this reason you will want to find a lawyer who alone, or with the assistance of a national network, is in the best position to help you.

Spending the extra time and effort to find a principled legal professional with your best interests in mind who understands asbestos litigation takes some detective work, but it is well worth the effort.

Selasa, 03 Agustus 2010

Mesothelioma: A Cancer Which Is Caused Due To Exposure To Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is generally caused due to the exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a critical form of cancer which generally affects the lungs of the human organism. Mostly those people who are very much prone to the exposure of asbestos in their day to day life will lead to get affected by Mesothelioma.

In this consideration, mostly, the labors in the industrial and in the construction firm get affected by Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is virtually caused due to the exposure to asbestos, which generally gets into one's body through tiny dust like particles which float in the air in the process of inhaling.

Symptoms of mesothelioma are many and varied. The most common sign or symptom of Mesothelioma is lack of proper inhaling, continuous coughing, constant pain in the chest, etc. In addition to this, loss of weight, swelling of the abdomen, fever and anemia are also some other Mesothelioma symptoms.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer and hence the proper diagnosis of it cannot be enhanced due to the different symptoms that crop up in Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be treated in various ways. The most common and the basic form of Mesothelioma treatment is through surgery. The surgery will help in the removal of the affected lining of the body organs whether it be in the chest, abdomen or in the neck. Another popular form of Mesothelioma treatment is the radiation therapy. This radiation therapy or radiotherapy is implied in order to kill the cancer affects cell areas.

Mesothelioma thus becomes a deadly disease when no remedial measures are taken to overcome it and when exposure to asbestos is not controlled. But at present, there are various Mesothelioma law firms which are established in many countries of the world especially in those places where there is high percentage of mesothelioma, a cancer which is the result of high exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma law firm is entitled to provide advice to thousands of mesothelioma patients every year. Mesothelioma law firms are large enough to have huge resources and years of experience. Each case of mesothelioma is handled individually and proper investigations are made to help out the clients.

Mesothelioma law firm provides adequate counseling to the victims of asbestos. The mesothelioma law firms are based on two aspects. Firstly, to alert the victims about the possibility of this cancer due to the exposure to asbestos and secondly to improve the work place where exposure of asbestos are common.

Senin, 02 Agustus 2010

Mesothelioma Law Firms

After being ignored as a health issue for decades, overwhelming evidence in the 1960s finally convinced officials that exposure to asbestos was indeed a major health hazard. If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the medical costs can be very steep. With the help of a mesothelioma law firm, you may be able to get some financial assistance with the medical bills as well as pain and suffering. Enlisting the help of an asbestos law firm with the experience, resources, and compassion to protect your rights under the law may enable you and your family to receive fair compensation for your loss and injuries through an asbestos lawsuit.
Why Hire a Mesothelioma Law Firm?
There are many reasons to hire an experienced mesothelioma law firm but in many cases, the owners and management of companies which used asbestos in manufacturing knew about the health problems and chose to ignore them. They knew that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are very difficult to diagnose until many years after exposure and allowed their workers to work in hazardous environments anyway. By contacting a mesothelioma law firm, you and your family may be able to receive financial assistance from these employers no matter how many years have passed since you were exposed to asbestos, depending on your state's statutes of limitations. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer may be able to:
• Help you receive compensation for your asbestos-related medical bills
• Prepare an asbestos lawsuit on your behalf
• Prove that a former employer knowingly exposed you or a loved one to hazardous asbestos fibers
• Protect your rights under the law
• Work on a contingency-fee basis which means that they don’t collect any payment until or unless you receive compensation for your injuries
Who is Likely to Need an Asbestos Law Firm?
Asbestos was used in a wide range of different industries and since mesothelioma usually cannot be diagnosed until decades after exposure, many people suffering from this disease are retired. A list of the most common industries for asbestos litigation includes:
• Auto Parts Manufacturing
• Textiles
• Flooring
• Mining
• Roofing Materials
• Fire-Resistant Materials Manufacturing
• Insulation
• Plumbing
• Heating and Cooling
• Shipbuilding
• And many others
This site features a great deal of information about asbestos-related injuries, mesothelioma law firms, the causes of mesothelioma, historic mesothelioma cases, what to do if you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma, infamous cases of asbestos exposure, and much more. We’ll be adding more mesothelioma information on a regular basis, so check back often and bookmark this site for future reference. We encourage you to explore the other pages on this site to learn more about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure as well as mesothelioma law firms in your state who can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your asbestos-related injuries.

Minggu, 01 Agustus 2010

Early Diagnosis Mesothelioma Is Difficult

Early diagnosis is difficult and in most cases the first obvious sign is sudden breathlessness caused by an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (a pleural effusion)and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain.

Scans and X-rays can provide strong evidence to support the diagnosis especially coupled with a history of asbestos exposure. However, other diseases can produce these symptoms and to be certain of a correct diagnosis more investigations often need to be carried out. Scans, Fluid taken for laboratory examination, possibly needle biopsy or keyhole surgery to take a biopsy (a small sample of tissue) are likely to be carried out to help with the confirmation of the diagnosis. These tests and results may take several weeks to complete.

If you have been are experiencing symptoms closely related to the ones described above please consult a doctor. If you or a family member have been affected by mesothelioma it is possible to receive compensation through legal channels by consulting a lawyer. Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer. Because it takes so long for symptoms to appear it can spread to the other organs in the chest, the chest wall and into the lymph nodes. The cancerous cells spread, or metastasize from the mesothelium into other parts of the body and damage internal tissues and organs. Treatment is more effective when the disease is detected early.

There are a few treatments for all types of mesothelioma but none of these have a high success rate. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on how early and how aggressively the cancer is treated.

If the cancerous cells are treated when they have fully matured and developed then it is unlikely that treatment methods will be successful. Treatment methods include chemotherapy which is the use of drugs to kill the cancer, radiation therapy which uses a radiation dosage to kill off cancerous cells and surgery which attempts to gain long term control over the cancer by removing a large portion of malignant cells. These treatment methods can be combined in the form of dual therapy.

Jumat, 30 Juli 2010

Mesothelioma Is One Of The Most Deadly Disease In The World

Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly disease in the world. It is a cancer of the mesothelium of the abdominal cavity, the chest wall and the region around the heart. Different types of mesothelioma are distinguished between by where the cancer is growing.

Pleural mesothelioma, the most common, accounting for 75% of all mesothelioma cases, is where cancerous cells develop on the lining of the lungs. The next most common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma and this is where cancerous cells grow on the peritoneum which is the lining of the abdomen. Pericardial mesothelioma, the least common major form of mesothelioma, makes up roughly 5% of all mesothelioma cases. This is where malignant cancer cells grow on the lining of the heart.
Mesothelioma is primarily caused by chronic exposure to asbestos or asbestos related products. As asbestos fibers enter the body, either by breathing or swallowing, they cause normally healthy cells to mutate into cancer. This exposure can come directly, such as working in an asbestos processing center, or indirectly by inhalation of residual asbestos particles remaining on clothing or building materials. Due to its uncommon nature, mesothelioma is typically difficult to diagnose and treat. It has been connected with exposure to asbestos, a material formerly present in many work environments. Only about 3,000 individuals are diagnosed annually.

The primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Between 70-80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos, usually in the workplace. Although it is possible to develop mesothelioma without any exposure to asbestos, it is very rare.

While one person for every million people in the US will be diagnosed with mesothelioma, about 7-13 men who have been exposed to asbestos will be diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms frequently take 20 years to develop, but can take as long as 50 years to occur.

When cancerous cells invade the mesothelium, it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe. In the pleural form of mesothelioma, tumors growing in the mesothelium cause pleural effusions, which prevent the smooth movement of the lungs and other organs in the chest. Peritoneal mesothelioma invades the abdominal cavity and can cause loss of appetite weight loss, nausea and vomiting.

Kamis, 29 Juli 2010

Mesothelioma Law Firm (Firms)

There are many Mesothelioma Law Firms and Mesothelioma Lawyers around the nation, however, it is important that you meet your individual lawyer and select one that has the same goals in mind as your family.

Some lawyers are trial lawyers and will focus on bring the case to trial in hopes of bringing out the full value of your case. This approach can land a multi million dollar verdict but may also leave you with nothing in your pocket. Remember that a jury is always unpredictable, regardless of the strength of your case. Other lawyers are more apt to be good negotiators and will get you a fair settlement without going to trial. Often times you will get your money much faster but in some of the cases you will have to settle for less money to receive it now.

Mesothelioma Law Firms or Mesothelioma Lawyers should specialize in only handling cases which involve the negligent use of asbestosis. Thousands of companies are responsible for maintaining unhealthy work environments or producing products which contained asbestos. The Mesothelioma Law Firm that your hire should be very experienced with all of the companies that manufactured or handled asbestosis within the last 30 years. This is a long list of companies and therefore your lawyer should have a long career in handling these types of claims and dealing with the obvious defendants.

There are numerous mesothelioma law firms to take advantage of.
We present a few big and respectable mesothelioma law firms.

Rabu, 28 Juli 2010

Mesothelioma Lawyer and Mesothlioma Lawsuit Information

Welcome to LegalView's Mesothelioma and Asbestos Resource Site. If you're looking for information about Mesothelioma and Asbestos, both the legal and medical issues, you've come to the right place.

Our site has a lot of Mesothelioma Background Information, including a Mesothelioma Glossary, information about who sold asbestos and what asbestos was used for, occupations most at risk for Mesothelioma, and more.

We also have an area of the site containing Mesothelioma treatment information, and other types of assistance, such as Social Security and Workers Compensation.
We also have detailed information from the FDA, OSHA, and EPA, and details about Legal Assistance for Mesothelioma Victims.

Additionally, those looking for up-to-date Mesothelioma news and information should check out the Mesothelioma and Asbestos blog for constantly updated content dealing with Mesothelioma and Asbestos.

Feel free to spend some time viewing the the materials on this site. And if you're looking for experienced legal assistance to help with your own situation, use the form below to contact one of our attorneys.

Minggu, 25 Juli 2010

Mesothelioma Activists

Mesothelioma lawyers are helping to take down a trend of killing in the world. As lawyers for workers that have knowingly been exposed to asbestos (without the knowledge of the employee or any protection from the employer), these activists are helping to shed light on a preventable trend of this rare cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can affect many systems of the body, but does not respond to treatment as other cancers can and do.

Mesothelioma attacks the mesothelium of the inner organs and creates intense pain and discomfort for workers who are afflicted. And the fact that it can not be detected until it has already spread is a cause for necessary concern.
With lawyers in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Norway and even in the United Nations, it seems that the world is going to find out about mesothelioma whether employers want everyone to know or not.

This site has been developed to give you the knowledge that you need to get compensation for your health and financial troubles as a result of mesothelioma. Or if you know someone that is suffering from mesothelioma, they can learn that they are not alone in their fight.

What kind of information can you find here?
• Definition of mesothelioma
• Types of mesothelioma
• Why mesothelioma is deadly
• Symptoms of mesothelioma
• Diagnosis of mesothelioma
• Current treatments of mesothelioma
• Alternative treatments for mesothelioma
• Experimental treatments for mesothelioma
• Locations of mesothelioma lawyers

Mesothelioma - an Ongoing Threat

By the end of the 1980s the causal relationship between asbestos and the lethal cancer mesothelioma had been established beyond doubt. In 1989 the EPA banned the use of asbestos in most products. While there were court squabbles over the ban in the ensuing couple of years, asbestos has basically been eliminated from the production line in the United States.

Asbestos mines have long been closed, although substances such as taconite that contain asbestos are still being mined.However asbestos retains a huge presence in our environment. According to the American Cancer Society, the EPA believes that nearly three quarters of a million schools and other public buildings still contain asbestos insulation. The report notes that probably ten to fifteen percent of America’s schools still have asbestos on the premises.

Structures with asbestos insulation or pipe fittings or tiles or other construction material become an active asbestos threat when the asbestos is removed. Disturbing asbestos releases asbestos fibers into the air; that is why workers who retrofit these buildings wear masks and protective clothing.That leaves a lot of construction and factory workers at risk.

The report goes on to note that while the annual occurrences of mesothelioma among men have leveled out, the development of the disease among women is on the increase. Several studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma, because asbestos fibers are carried home on the clothes of the workers.

While active exposure among miners and industrial workers may have been dramatically reduced, it seems that the secondary exposure to family members is now being reflected in mesothelioma’s occurrence among women. Because the disease often takes decades to manifest itself, perhaps these family members are simply following the pattern of delayed exposure, resulting in later occurrences of the disease.

Sabtu, 24 Juli 2010

Mesothelioma Foundation Seeks Pentagon Funding

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is leading a charge on the Pentagon budget for money to fund meso research. Their reasoning is simple: according to a Capitol Hill newsletter, “…at least one-third of the people suffering from mesothelioma - a lethal form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure - have either been in the Navy or worked in Navy shipyards across the country.”

More than a dozen senators, aided by an intense grassroots lobby, are pushing for funds to examine asbestos-related cancer. Part of the Department of Defense Budget includes funds for “peer reviewed medical research.” It is this program that the Foundation wants funded. Congress sets the priority for what research priorities are; if falls to the Defense Department to make the grants.

Several senators sent a letter last month to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Defense panel, including Senators Max Baucus of Montana and Patty Murray of Washington, who have been at the forefront to get more money for research and treatment.

The town of Bremerton in Washington State, near the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, has one of the highest incidences of asbestos-related cancer. And hundreds of people have been sickened or killed because of asbestos exposure from a former vermiculite mine in Libby, Mont.

Last year the Congress approved a Department of Defense budget that included $50 million for the peer review program. A steady flow of research funds for mesothelioma may lead to earlier detection methods – and accordingly, a longer period of survival for victims of the disease.