February, 2025

Mesothelioma Victim Wins Legal Battle to Return Case to Local Court

February 16, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as R.M.

Mesothelioma lawsuits often involve complex and contentious legal battles as asbestos companies employ aggressive strategies to avoid liability. One common tactic these companies use is moving cases to federal courts, which are often more favorable to businesses, offering immunity and saving them money. At the same time, mesothelioma victims or their survivors continue to suffer. However, these attempts do not always succeed. In a recent case, R.M., a former shipyard worker, successfully fought to have his mesothelioma lawsuit remanded to a local court after the defendant, Hopeman Brothers, tried to transfer the case to federal court.

R.M.’s illness began from his work at the Key Highway Shipyard between 1973 and 1974. During this time, he was exposed to asbestos dust released from Micarta paneling used in ship construction. According to his lawsuit, Hopeman Brothers’ workers cut, handled, and installed the asbestos-containing panels while working on various vessels, including tankers, passenger ships, and the Coast Guard’s Westwind.

Michael Throneberry to serve as the 2025 President of the Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10

February 11, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

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Michael Throneberry to serve as the 2025 President of the Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10. The Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10 is a vital, growing group of trial lawyers from across the country who share knowledge, experience, and expertise in handling Asbestos/Mesothelioma cases.

“I am honored, and it is a privilege to serve as the 2025 President of the Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association.” Michael Throneberry.

The Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10 is a Specialty Association of The National Trial Lawyers. This is an invitation-only organizations composed of premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process, including peer nominations combined with third-party research. These distinguished individuals demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and model rule.

Florida Jury Awards $8.5 Million in Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Case

February 9, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as D.B.

In a landmark decision, a Florida Jury awarded over $9 million to the widow of D.B., an employee benefits advisor who was diagnosed and later succumbed to malignant mesothelioma. While D.B. never actually worked directly with asbestos, he alleged exposure through frequent visits to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation facilities, which were laden with asbestos, played a significant role in his mesothelioma diagnosis. Following his passing, his wife, Rosa Maria, carried forward the wrongful death lawsuit. The jury awarded Rosa Maria $8.5 million in compensatory damages and $519,265 to D.B.’s estate for medical and funeral expenses.

D.B. worked as an employee benefits advisor from 1978 to 1997, a role that took him to various commercial and industrial sites. Among the facilities he frequently visited were Northrop Grumman locations in New York and California. According to his claim, these sites contained asbestos-insulated pipes that released toxic fibers into the air.

FDA Proposes Stricter Testing for Talc Products

February 2, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed a new rule to enhance the safety of cosmetic products containing asbestos. The rule, titled “Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products,” seeks to mandate standardized testing procedures to identify the presence of asbestos, a known carcinogen, in these products.

Talc is a mineral commonly used in cosmetics for its moisture-absorbing properties and smooth texture. However, since talc deposits are often geologically close to asbestos, they can easily become contaminated with asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure has been linked to severe health issues, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and ovarian cancer. This is the rationale behind the FDA’s proposal to standardize testing methods to minimize the risk of asbestos contamination. The FDA requires manufacturers to implement two methods for testing:

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)