Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog

Colgate-Palmolive settles claim linking asbestos to its talcum-powder

November 14, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

Colgate-Palmolive Co. will avoid going to trial in a New Jersey state courtroom as they agree to settle a lawsuit linking asbestos to its talcum-powder.

Carol Schoeniger, a Pennsylvania woman filed a lawsuit against the New York-based company claiming its talcum-powder caused her to develop mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The financial terms of the settlement have not been made public.

This is not the first claim that talc users have made against the brand. Colgate-Palmolive has resolved 43 cases and is currently facing 170 cases in which accusers allege they were sold asbestos-laced powder.

Georgia-Pacific Drywall Division Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Over Asbestos Claims

November 9, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

A drywall manufacturing division of Georgia-Pacific recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy over thousands of asbestos cancer claims against the company, owned by Koch Industries since 2005. Georgia-Pacific’s Bestwall Unit is currently the subject of tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company knowingly manufactured drywall products with asbestos but did nothing to inform users of the possible dangers of developing serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of lung cancer.

Georgia-Pacific manufactured “mud,” a joint compound used in construction to seal pieces of drywall together or fill in cracks, which contained chrysotile asbestos until 1977, one of the most common forms of the flaky white mineral. While the company claims its total production amounted to only a small fraction of products made with asbestos, it was nonetheless one of the most common types of drywall mud used in past decades, resulting in thousands of cases of exposure.

Asbestos was once commonly used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications for decades by many manufacturers. Although federal regulators did not restrict the use of asbestos until the mid 1970’s, the manufacturers were well aware of the potential hazards of inhaling asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, manufacturers continued to use asbestos in their products and did nothing to warn consumers about the risks.

Indiana Jury Returns $5 Million Verdict for Family of Plaintiff Killed by Asbestos Exposure

November 6, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

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A McLean County, Indiana jury recently handed down a significant trial verdict for the family who brought suit on behalf of their deceased loved one, claiming the defendants allowed the victim to be exposed to asbestos which eventually lead to his mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. It took the men and women of the jury just one hour of deliberation after a two-week trial to hold Tremco Inc. responsible for the victim’s terminal cancer and awarded his surviving family members $5 million on behalf of the estate.

According to local media reports, the 81-year-old victim passed away in 2012 after a hard-fought battle with mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer commonly affecting the thin lining of tissue surrounding the lungs and abdomen. The plaintiff worked as a window glazier on commercial buildings throughout Central Illinois and northeast Indiana between 1956 and the 1990s, unknowingly using asbestos-contaminated products that would eventually cause his mesothelioma cancer diagnosis.

Attorneys for the plaintiff asserted that the defendant used asbestos in many of the products used by the victim but did not inform him or other workers about the risks involved with asbestos exposure or that it was used in its products. Evidence at trial showed the plaintiff specifically used Tremco’s 440 tape and Mono caulking on construction sites where he installed glass.

Backlog in Baltimore courts Leaves Thousands of Asbestos Cancer Victims Waiting for Their Cases to be Heard

November 1, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

Maryland lawmakers recently convened hearings to delve into why potentially tens of thousands of asbestos cancer victims have yet to have their day in court years after developing serious, life-threatening conditions and filing suit to recover much needed compensation. Those meetings primarily focused on courts in Baltimore city, the epicenter of the state’s mesothelioma crisis, where thousands of hardworking men and women developed the rare and deadly lung cancer working in the city’s shipping industry.

According to reporting by the Baltimore Sun, neither side could agree on exactly just how many plaintiffs had delays in their case or for how long. State senator Robert A. “Bobby” Zirkin, Chairman of Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, reportedly called the meeting to try and get to the bottom of whether the city’s court system has made any progress in the past three years in clearing the backlog of claims brought by individuals harmed while working in Baltimore’s ports, shipbuilding centers, and other construction trades.

Representatives from one of Baltimore’s largest and well-known plaintiffs law firms estimated that there could be as many as 22,000 active asbestos injury lawsuits awaiting trial and an additional 7,000 inactive cases in which the plaintiffs reserved their right to file suit if their conditions worsened. While city administrative judges testified that the new system implemented in 2014 was resolving cases at a higher rate than previous years, the backlog could still take decades to clear even with every side fully staffed.

Could Off-Roading Be A Source Of Asbestos Exposure?

October 30, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

It’s a favorite pastime of about 44 million Americans – riding all-terrain vehicles or off-roading, as it’s sometimes called. It can be dangerous because of the severe injuries that can happen in a crash. But is there another potential risk?

This study examined the connection between individuals who off-road and asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the United States and other countries. After mining, builders often used it in construction until the Environmental Protection Agency banned the toxic material in 1989. Over time, people who inhale asbestos fibers are at risk of mesothelioma, which causes a deadly cancer that has no cure.

This study looked ATV riders and the possibly that off-roading kicked up dust that led to asbestos inhalation. The study focused on California and looked at 15 previous investigations. For individuals in the study with measured asbestos concentrations, speed and riding in a group were commonalities. It was an interesting investigation into the relationship between asbestos and off-roading. More studies looking at this issue in other parts of the country where asbestos is prevalent could be useful.

Montana Courts to Hear Case on Asbestos-Related Injuries From Libby Mine

October 25, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

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Almost two decades after environmental regulators discovered serious asbestos contamination at a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, lawsuits related to asbestos exposure continue to work their way through the courts. A federal judge is set to decide whether a dozen or so cases will remain in Montana state court or be transferred to federal court and decide whether or not a whole host of defendants are liable for the plaintiffs’ serious medical conditions related to asbestos exposure near the mine.

Hundreds of cases against defendants BNSF Railroad Company, the state of Montana and other entities allege the defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiffs’ medical conditions, including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer commonly affecting the lungs. In August, about one dozen other cases were transferred from Cascade County District Court to U.S. District Court for the District of Montana in Great Falls.

The vermiculite mine’s original owner, W.R. Grace & Co., filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2011 and formed an asbestos bankruptcy trust before splitting into two separate companies in 2015. The trust established by W.R. Grace compensates victims who were harmed by the asbestos in the vermiculite mine it operated and allows the company to settle its debts and restructure. According to reports, the trust is valued at $4 billion and could end up compensating thousands of possible claimants harmed by the company’s activities at the mine.

Five Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma

October 16, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

Most people have heard of asbestos, but not all are familiar with the risks involved with this toxic material. Some only learn of mesothelioma when they have a personal reason to do so, such as a doctor diagnosing their disease or having a friend or loved one dealing with it. Many questions will run through their heads. Here are some of the most common:

What is mesothelioma? A rare and extremely deadly form of cancer, mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers over time. It causes cancerous cells to form in tissue around covers the lungs, chest wall or abdomen.
Who is at risk? Certain types of workers, such as mechanics, electricians and plumbers, are at risk for asbestos exposure. Family members of these workers also are at risk. Individuals may have been exposed to asbestos working in places such as:

Power plants
Shipyards
Oil refineries
Mills
Factories

3. When do symptoms appear? It can take 20 years for the cancer to form after exposure. Shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage are common symptoms, but it can be difficult to diagnose. Most individuals with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s or 1980s.

4. What is the prognosis? The prognosis depends on many individual factors, including age and gender. About 40 percent of patients with mesothelioma survive one first year after a diagnosis. Older mesothelioma patients have a much lower survival rate.

Memo Reveals J&J Knew About Possible Asbestos in Talcum Powder for Decades

October 9, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

Cosmetics and personal hygiene products company Johnson & Johnson has made massive headlines in recent months over substantial jury verdicts handed down against the company over allegations that it knew for years about the possible causal link between using talcum powder and developing ovarian cancer. Now, J&J could be open to even more liability after an internal company memo surfaced in another trial that shows it also knew its talcum powder products could also be contaminated with asbestos, a flaky white mineral known to cause the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma.

Attorneys representing more than 50 clients in a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson recently unveiled internal company memos suggesting that the defendant was aware as far back as the 1970s that some of its talcum powder from a pair of mines was contaminated with asbestos. Those contaminated sources allegedly came from mines in Vermont and Italy and appear to directly contradict the company’s claims that its talc-based products have been asbestos-free since the federal government declared asbestos a dangerous carcinogen many decades ago.

Those memos, dated to 1973, state that Johnson & Johnson found two different types of asbestos in its talcum powder, prompting one company official to suggest switching its Baby Powder ingredients to corn starch instead. Furthermore, documents obtained by the plaintiffs show that the defendant went as far as to rewrite product booklets to omit the fact talcum powder from the Italian mine contained the cancer-causing mineral.

Michael Throneberry – America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Selection

October 4, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

October 4, 2017 – Announcing the Lifetime Achievement selection of Michael Throneberry among America’s Top 100 Attorneys®. Lifetime Achievement selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional attorneys whose accomplishments and impact on the legal profession merit a Lifetime Achievement award.

Selection is not achieved based on a single accomplishment or a single great year of success, but rather on a lifetime of hard work, ethical standards, and community enriching accomplishments that are inspiring among the legal profession. To help ensure that all attorneys selected for membership meet the very high standards expected for selection, candidates for lifetime membership are carefully screened through comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, lifetime achievements, significant case results, peer reputation, and community impact. With these extremely high standards for selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys®, less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the community.

Florida Supreme Court to Hear Appeal in Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit Against Tobacco Company

October 2, 2017 | Throneberry Law Group

The Florida Supreme Court recently agreed to hear the appeal of a plaintiff whose $8 million verdict against a tobacco company was thrown out by a state Appeals Court and subsequently denied a review by a larger panel of judges. The victim’s lawsuit claimed that R.J. Reynolds tobacco company produced a defective product which ultimately contributed to the plaintiff developing mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.

The mesothelioma cancer lawsuit alleged that the victim’s cancer developed through exposure to asbestos-laden filters on Kent cigarettes the plaintiff smoked in the 1950s as well as exposure to asbestos in gaskets produced by Crane Co. A jury initially awarded the plaintiff $8 million for his injuries, including pain and suffering, as compensation for the defendants producing a product which they knew contained harmful substances but did nothing to warn consumers about.

However, the defendants appealed the verdict on the grounds that the trial court improperly admitted an expert witness for the plaintiffs who specialized in occupational and environmental medicine. The expert asserted at trial that the type of chrysotile asbestos used in the cigarette filters and gaskets directly contributed to the victim’s injuries. Another expert witness for the plaintiff also testified as to the link between the victim’s diagnosis and exposure to the defective products developed and sold by the defendants.