Mesothelioma Legal Blog

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops after someone suffers asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a substance that was widely used many years ago due to its qualities. However, as much as asbestos is no longer widely used, legacy asbestos remains a huge concern. Legacy asbestos is asbestos-containing materials installed in buildings, products, or equipment before the 1980s. Asbestos was commonly used in construction and manufacturing due to its fire-resistant and insulating qualities.

Individuals exposed to asbestos fibers are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Exposure was widespread up until the 1980s, when the dangers of exposure were officially recognized by the federal government. Unfortunately, by that time, many individuals had already been exposed to dangerous levels of fibers. As a result, there have been many asbestos-related claims against the manufacturers and employers that were responsible for causing exposure to victims.

[if gte mso 10]> Despite state courts not having to deal with asbestos cancer lawsuits for quite some time, the New Hampshire state senate is poised to introduced proposed legislation that could seriously limit the legal rights of mesothelioma cancer victims. If passed, the proposed law would put New Hampshire in a group of over one dozen states that have passed so-called transparency acts aimed at slowing the pace of litigation and forcing plaintiffs to take legal steps they otherwise would not be obliged to.

Theories of Liability In an asbestos lawsuit, a claim that the defendant caused injury will be made. The most common claims are that the exposure to asbestos fibers caused either mesothelioma or lung cancer, although claims for asbestosis exist as well. There are several legal theories that may be used to recover compensation for injury, or potential injury, from exposure to asbestos fibers.

A Norwegian biotechnology company recently announced that the 21-month followup data from its clinical stage immunotherapy trials revealed promising results for mesothelioma patients who are also undergoing chemotherapy to treat their rare and deadly form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The results of the study show that at least half of the patients who took the company’s immuno-oncology drug while undergoing chemotherapy are still alive, compared to an average survival rate of just over a year for those who did not.

When it comes to mesothelioma lawsuits, it is usually a good idea to look for expert assistance. An attorney is one of the experts a patient or the family of a mesothelioma patient needs to work with. Another expert that might prove beneficial to a mesothelioma case is an expert witness. Usually, expert witnesses are necessary in personal injury cases where medical and legal issues become complex, and mesothelioma lawsuits almost always involve complex medical and legal issues. Read on to learn how an expert witness can help your mesothelioma case.