Mesothelioma Legal Blog

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer whose main cause is asbestos exposure. It can be devastating to get a mesothelioma diagnosis. Often, after people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, they face several daunting questions about their future. Some questions people ask themselves about the future after a mesothelioma diagnosis include whether there is a cure for mesothelioma, how mesothelioma will affect their quality of life, and whether it is possible to live a normal life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for mesothelioma.

W.R. Grace and Libby mine located in Libby, Montana contained a deposits of asbestos that continues to receive attention from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today. While the cleanup effort in Libby has been extensive, the dangers of the mine are present throughout the nation. This is because the vermiculite containing asbestos mined from Libby was used extensively in insulation materials shipped to all parts of the country. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that, when exposed to extremely high temperatures, expands from 8 to 30 times its original size.

Homeowners may be at risk of exposure to asbestos due to the insulation either in the attic or wrapped around wire or pipes. In addition to the low cost of asbestos insulation, it has insulating characteristics that make it exceptionally useful in home application. Asbestos insulation is light and can be installed without difficulty into confining spaces such as residential attics. Asbestos fibers in vermiculite are too small to be seen by the naked eye so only a trained technician with a microscope can see asbestos fibers.

For several years now, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been battling numerous lawsuits from tens of thousands of people who claim its talc-based products, including its well-known baby powder, caused mesothelioma and ovarian cancer due to asbestos contamination. The company has previously attempted to resolve the claims through bankruptcy, which is mainly viewed as a controversial move given that it’s one of the most profitable companies in the world. Two previous bankruptcy filings were thrown out in New Jersey and Philadelphia, but the company remains relentless.

Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to the development of mesothelioma which is a form of cancer. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the tissue surrounding the lungs. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed with this form of cancer each year. It is possible to file a lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure to asbestos fibers. The possible modes of recovery include a settlement, winning the lawsuit, or, if the company has filed for bankruptcy, successfully making a trust fund claim.

A recent report by Klamath Falls, Oregon-based Herald and News sheds light on the plight of one North Ridge couple struggling to cope with the impact of a 12-year-old asbestos contamination clean up in the backyard of the husband and wife’s dream retirement home. According to the article, officials with the clean up effort promised the couple a two-to-three-year time period to complete the project, but the initiative has lingered on for over a decade.