Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog

What are Employers Required to Do to Reduce the Hazards of Asbestos at Work?

July 22, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos exposure can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma. Unfortunately, if you work with asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials, you are at an increased risk of asbestos exposure. In fact, occupational asbestos exposure is among the most common types of exposure.

If you work with asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials, OSHA requires your employer to take certain steps to reduce the hazards of asbestos at work. Indeed, the exact steps your employer must take depend on the industry. However, there are some basic requirements that all employers are required to meet.

What are the Hazards of Asbestos?

California Woman Receives $43 Million Award in Mesothelioma Case

July 15, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

After two weeks of in-person trial, a Los Angeles County jury awarded a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with mesothelioma $43 million on May 20, 2022. This verdict is among the largest seen in recent years. The woman, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2019, blamed Algoma Hardwoods Inc. for her condition.

According to the evidence presented, the 64-year-old California woman never directly worked with the toxic substance known as asbestos. However, her husband used to work in a capacity that exposed him to asbestos. He worked with doors that contained asbestos. The asbestos dust from the doors got stuck in his skin, hair, and clothes, and he brought this dust home. Even though the woman sometimes assisted her husband on-site, most of the asbestos exposure she suffered was from the asbestos dust her husband brought home. According to a family representative, the 64-year-old woman suffered asbestos exposure while doing her husband’s laundry. Also, just being inside the home exposed her to asbestos.

From 1977 to 1980, Algoma made fire-resistant asbestos-contaminated doors. The jury found the company 50% liable for the 64-year-old woman’s mesothelioma. The jury then assessed comparative fault against other defendants. The following is a breakdown of the percentage of responsibility each defendant was awarded;

Study Highlights the Importance of Banning Asbestos

July 11, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a mineral that causes mesothelioma, a rare and deadly type of cancer. In fact, asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. In an attempt to reduce mesothelioma cases, many countries worldwide have banned asbestos. However, asbestos has not been banned in the United States of America.

Do asbestos bans really help? Does banning asbestos reduce the incidence of mesothelioma? A recent study shows that asbestos bans can reduce mesothelioma cases, although not immediately. The findings of this study might affect asbestos rules in America.

Data From Study Indicates Asbestos Bans Can Reduce Mesothelioma Cases

Statute of Limitations for Mesothelioma Cases

June 28, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

If you recently got a mesothelioma diagnosis or lost a loved one to mesothelioma, you are likely thinking of filing a claim to receive compensation. Mesothelioma occurs after a person is exposed to asbestos, and asbestos exposure is usually caused by negligence. So, it is only fair that mesothelioma victims and surviving loved ones of deceased mesothelioma victims receive compensation.

If you are thinking of filing a mesothelioma claim, you need to know about a law known as the “statute of limitations.” This is a law that limits the amount of time you have to bring your mesothelioma case to court. However, understanding the statute of limitations for mesothelioma cases is not that easy as different factors could affect the amount of time you have to file your lawsuit. For that reason, you need to consult an attorney to ensure you do not wait too long to file your claim.

Understanding the Statute of Limitations for Mesothelioma Cases

Which Type of Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma?

June 18, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Most people, if not everyone, knows that asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. However, it might not be clear to most people which type of asbestos causes mesothelioma. If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, you might be wondering if the type of asbestos you or your loved one was exposed to was the cause of the disease. So, which kind of asbestos can cause mesothelioma? Read on to find out.

Defining Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral that was commonly used for many commercial uses in the 20th century because of its properties. Asbestos is, among other things, resistant to water, resistant to chemicals, and resistant to electricity.

The Environmental Protection Agency Proposes Stricter Asbestos Reporting

June 11, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that causes life-threatening diseases such as mesothelioma. Because of this, there are individuals and organizations out there dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through advocacy, education, and community. One of these organizations is the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). In 2020, the organization won the Right to Know Lawsuit. Afterward, ADAO won a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to ADAO and its partners, the agreement would make sure the EPA conducts its work on asbestos with enough information. Recently, the agency published a related proposal. Here is more information about this proposal.

EPA’s Proposal

The EPA recently proposed a rule that would require importers, manufacturers, and processors of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated products to report all asbestos uses for the last four years. According to the proposed rule, manufacturers or processors of asbestos-contaminated products would need to share information about all asbestos uses, the quantity of asbestos used, and where exposure has occurred. Currently, much of this information is not a requirement. The proposal also covers articles with unintended impurities like asbestos-contaminated talc products.

How Long Will I Live After Being Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?

June 4, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

It can be scary to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, the rare type of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. One of the top questions that people ask regarding mesothelioma is, “How long will I live after being diagnosed with mesothelioma?” Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer, and, unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. However, the good news is that people with mesothelioma can extend their life expectancies well beyond their initial prognosis with treatment.

Mesothelioma Life Expectancies

Mesothelioma life expectancy is a medical professional’s prediction regarding how long you have to live after a mesothelioma diagnosis. A mesothelioma patient’s life expectancy is an important part of their prognosis.

Veterans and Mesothelioma

May 24, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

According to research, veterans account for over 30% of all mesothelioma cases in America. Fortunately, veterans with mesothelioma can recover compensation through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office. Veterans with mesothelioma can receive state-of-the-art treatment through the VA. Additionally, the VA allows surviving loved ones to apply for compensation. If you are a veteran with mesothelioma or a surviving loved one of a veteran who died after developing mesothelioma, read on to learn about, among other things, the types of VA benefits available to veterans with mesothelioma and surviving loved ones.

How Did Veterans Get Exposed to Asbestos?

All military branches used asbestos-contaminated products, including the navy, army, air force, marine corps, and coast guard. Military personnel who served in these branches were at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos in the military was used in vehicles, ships, and aircraft. This mesothelioma-causing substance was used anywhere at risk of fire. Unfortunately, because of the large volume of asbestos produced for the military, a generation of veterans got exposed to asbestos, thus resulting in a significant number of veterans developing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma FAQs

May 21, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

As mesothelioma attorneys, we get asked questions about mesothelioma all the time. This article contains answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is rare and aggressive. It can develop when a person is exposed to asbestos. When you inhale asbestos fibers, these fibers can get stuck in the lining of either the lungs or heart or abdomen. Over time, these fibers can cause mesothelioma.

Top Five Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Mesothelioma Case

May 13, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs due to asbestos exposure. It is a fatal type of cancer that still has no known cure. Fortunately, if you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can recover compensation from the negligent party that led to the asbestos exposure. However, if you want to recover the compensation you deserve in a mesothelioma case, it is crucial that you do not make, among many others, the following mistakes:

Mistake #1: Not Considering All the Places You or Your Loved One May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos

Before you can recover compensation in a mesothelioma case, you must identify where the asbestos exposure occurred. One big mistake people make in mesothelioma cases is dismissing possible places where asbestos exposure may have occurred. Often, people assume that asbestos exposure can only happen in the workplace when the truth is that asbestos exposure can occur anywhere, including at home. It is crucial that you consider all the possible places where you or your loved one might have been exposed to asbestos during your/their lifetime. Remember, mesothelioma can take up to fifty years to develop after initial exposure.