Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog

How to Handle a Mesothelioma Deposition

February 26, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Depositions are part of the discovery process where involved parties collect information in preparation for the trial. A mesothelioma deposition involves the plaintiff and other parties relevant to the case answering questions or providing testimony under oath. Depositions help the claimant’s and defense’s sides learn more about the case. In other words, mesothelioma depositions are a crucial part of successful lawsuits.

Understandably, claimants and witnesses supporting the claimant might feel nervous before a deposition. Fortunately, mesothelioma lawyers are available to help with preparation. A qualified attorney can help explain in advance the kind of questions the opposing attorney is likely to ask. An attorney can help guide you through the process of a mesothelioma deposition.

Arrive Well-Rested

How to File a Mesothelioma Claim

February 18, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

If you or a dear one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might have the right to file a claim and recover compensation from negligent parties. Though mesothelioma compensation cannot undo what happened, it can help with, among other things, the high cost of treatment and provide financial security. By seeking compensation, you can hold the people or companies that caused your or your loved one’s illness accountable.

Why File a Mesothelioma Claim?

Mesothelioma compensation can help pay for, among other things, the following;

Court Denies Petition for Veterans Mesothelioma Claim Based on Nuclear Submarine Asbestos Exposure to Be Dismissed

February 11, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the defendant, in this case, will be referred to as A.O.H.

Veterans are at a high risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. This is especially true for people who served in the military between 1935 and 1975. According to research, it was at this period that asbestos use in the military was at its highest. The military favored using asbestos-contaminated products because this material is fire-resistant and highly durable. In particular, navy vessels, such as submarines, had many asbestos products. As a result, thousands of veterans who worked on navy vessels have developed asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Mr. A.O.H is just one example of the many U.S. veterans who have developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos while serving in the U.S. Navy aboard nuclear submarines.

Mr. A.O.H. was diagnosed with mesothelioma three years ago. After his diagnosis, he and his spouse filed a lawsuit against Armstrong Pumps. Mr. H blames Armstrong Pumps for his asbestos exposure while he was part of the U.S. Navy aboard nuclear submarines. Specifically, A.O.H. blames his mesothelioma on the Armstrong pumps he worked with. The pumps were located close to where Mr. H used to work, and his work included supervising the maintenance of the pumps.

Some Crucial Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Lawyer Before Hiring Them

February 4, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

If you or someone you care about was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is best that you retain a lawyer to help you with your compensation claim. When you work with a mesothelioma attorney, you can expect them to conduct thorough investigations and handle all the legal aspects of your case on your behalf. You can expect your attorney to do their best to ensure you recover fair compensation. That is why it is crucial that you hire a skilled attorney who has, among other things, the resources needed to help them gather information and evidence about the asbestos exposure that led to the diagnosis. To ensure you are hiring the best mesothelioma lawyer, consider asking the lawyers you schedule an initial consultation with, among many others, the following questions;

How long have you been representing mesothelioma patients and families of mesothelioma victims?

Even a lawyer who is new to handling mesothelioma cases may be able to assist you. However, the truth is that mesothelioma lawyers and firms that have been representing mesothelioma patients and families of mesothelioma patients for years or decades are in a better position to give your case the highest likelihood of success. Experienced attorneys understand complex laws. They know which evidence they need to gather to win a case and how to negotiate.

ADAO Calls on Congress After Revelations of Asbestos Exposure

January 30, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

A detailed investigative report by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigating abuse of power, revealed how chemical giants have been lying about worker safety at their facilities. The report details decades of chemical company failures to provide enough protection for workers at Chlor-alkali plants, including a longtime contract janitor who got exposed to asbestos while pregnant. According to the janitor who worked at the Olin Corp. chemical plant, she scraped dry asbestos off the locker room floor. She also threw away protective suits, which were sometimes contaminated with asbestos. All this she did without any protective gear. According to the janitor, the company never informed workers about the dangers of asbestos.

For many years, workers across the U.S. did not discuss the dangers they were exposed to in asbestos-dependent chlorine plants. But after ProPublica revealed unsafe practices at a plant in Niagara Falls, New York, workers across America who worked at other chlorine plants voiced their concern about how the dangerous material was handled at their workplaces. Former lab analysts at a Texas plant revealed that workers there raised issues about potential asbestos exposures with safety managers in 2018. A contract pipe fitter who worked at the Olin Corp revealed that asbestos would fly and land everywhere. The pipe fitter did not experience lung problems, but his sister did. The sister worked various jobs in the company and spent time in places where workers handled asbestos. She was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in 2017 at 64.

In response to ProPublica’s report, Linda Reinstein, the President and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease and Awareness Organization (ADAO), a nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, issued a statement calling on Congress to enact a U.S. ban on asbestos. According to Linda, a U.S. ban on asbestos is decades overdue, and this latest report by ProPublica is another example of unnecessary exposure, diseases, and death. ADAO calls on Congress to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN).

How Much Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma?

January 28, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a mineral found in soil and rock. This mineral is made up of tiny fibers which can be inhaled or ingested. After someone is exposed to asbestos, they may end up developing different diseases. Mesothelioma is one of the common diseases people suffer after exposure to asbestos. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may wonder how much asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. You probably think that something else caused your or your loved one’s mesothelioma, especially if you or your loved one have not been exposed to asbestos for a prolonged period.

So, how much asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma? Any level of asbestos exposure is dangerous and can cause mesothelioma. It is possible to develop mesothelioma even after exposure to asbestos once or for a short time. However, prolonged asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing mesothelioma. Most people who develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos for several years. Unfortunately, asbestos fibers can relocate in different body parts after prolonged exposure and lead to different forms of mesothelioma.

Do All the People Who are Exposed to Asbestos Develop Mesothelioma?

Tips to Help You Recover the Compensation You Deserve in Your Mesothelioma Claim

January 17, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Every year, there are approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma cases in the United States of America. If you or someone dear to you was diagnosed with mesothelioma after asbestos exposure, you might have the right to file a claim and recover compensation. However, just because you are entitled to compensation does not mean you are guaranteed to recover the compensation you deserve. Defendants in mesothelioma cases are known to do whatever they can to deny liability and get out of paying out compensation. The following are some of the things you can do to ensure you recover the compensation you deserve in your mesothelioma claim:

Act Quickly

Each state has a statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims. A statute of limitations sets the amount of time you have to bring forward a legal claim. The statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims can be one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, or even six years. You need to submit your mesothelioma claim before the statute of limitations on your case runs out. If you file your claim after your time has run out, your claim may be rejected.

Mesothelioma Caregivers: Adjusting Holiday Expectations

January 14, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

After someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they need someone to care for them. Typically, the role of a mesothelioma caregiver is to help a mesothelioma patient with daily tasks as they progress through treatment. The complications of mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment can make it challenging for patients to do most things independently. A spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor are just a few of the people who can be mesothelioma caregivers.

Being a caregiver to someone with mesothelioma can result in different feelings. It can cause different challenges. According to most caregivers, taking care of someone with mesothelioma during the holidays makes the holidays feel different. This article shares some helpful tips that can help mesothelioma caregivers navigate the holiday season.

Tip #1: Admit That Things Feel Different

Effects of a Mesothelioma Diagnosis on Family and Friends

January 6, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos exposure can cause a type of cancer called mesothelioma. A mesothelioma diagnosis does not only affect the patient. It also affects the patient’s family and friends. This article discusses some of the effects a mesothelioma diagnosis can have on different family members and friends.

How Can a Mesothelioma Diagnosis Affect Spouses?

After learning of a mesothelioma diagnosis, one of the first people a patient may want to discuss the illness with is their spouse. However, the truth is that discussing mesothelioma with a spouse may not be easy. After receiving the news, a spouse may feel the same way their sick spouse feels. A spouse may feel scared. They may also feel sad, anxious, or helpless. Some spouses even go into denial and choose not to talk about the sickness.

Things to Know if You are Considering a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial

December 27, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

There is still no cure for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an illness that occurs after a person is exposed to asbestos, a dangerous substance that was widely used in the U.S. before the late 19^th century. However, the good news is that several treatment options are available for mesothelioma patients, and more treatments are being researched. Usually, researchers use clinical trials to investigate more effective treatments. A clinical trial can happen at a specific cancer center or in different cancer centers across the U.S. and other countries.

If you are considering enrolling in a mesothelioma clinical trial, you are likely feeling excited and frightened at the same time. While enrolling in a clinical trial might mean receiving the best treatment and helping other mesothelioma patients, the truth is that a clinical trial is not like a regular visit to the doctor. However, if you understand what to expect, it can prepare you.

The following are some crucial things to know if you are considering a mesothelioma clinical trial.