Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog

December 23, 2013

Wine Compound May Enhance Chemo Effect for Mesothelioma Patients

There are always new health studies revealing what is good or bad for our bodies. Recent reports on alcohol show that drinking wine can have positive health effects. According to new evidence, a compound found in red wine may be even more beneficial to patients being treated for mesothelioma with chemotherapy. For patients of mesothelioma, any improvement in treatment can be a sign of hope when facing the fatal disease.

Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest cancers and is most often associated with asbestos exposure. Individuals who have worked with household chemicals, industrial materials, or who have been exposed to asbestos in their home, residence or workplace are susceptible to mesothelioma. The cancer may be dormant for years and victims can be diagnosed months, years, or decades after exposure. Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys are dedicated to protecting victims’ rights and in staying abreast of all developments in the treatment of mesothelioma.
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December 20, 2013

Australian Genetic Treatment Raises Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The prognosis for mesothelioma sufferers is grave. Most sufferers do not have a very long life expectancy. While experimental treatments always raise hope for patients and their loved ones, it is difficult to know when these scientific breakthroughs can deliver practical and positive results for patients. Another new treatment is offering hope to the victims of the deadly cancer and has been making headlines worldwide.

Asbestos-related cancer, also known as mesothelioma, is problematic in industrialized nations throughout the world. Scientific communities throughout the U.K., Europe, Australia, Asia, and the United States have been working for a treatment and cure of the fatal cancer. According to the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute in Sydney, new research results could signal a breakthrough genetic treatment. Our mesothelioma attorneys in New England are abreast of all medical and legal issues related to mesothelioma. We are dedicated to providing legal support to clients and staying abreast of developments in the medical community.
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December 16, 2013

Boston Mesothelioma Litigation and the Every Exposure Theory

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recently, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy filed an asbestos exposure lawsuit, alleging that her lung cancer directly resulted from the time she spent as a youth washing the asbestos-covered clothing of her father and brothers.

Her claim has been met with broad cynicism because of the fact that she recently quit her pack-a-day cigarette habit.

Although our Boston mesothelioma attorneys have written before on the issue of asbestos litigation brought by smokers and former smokers (the cases are possible to win and a person’s choice to smoke doesn’t negate a manufacturer’s duty to warn), one of the more prominent issues we see here is that of the every exposure theory.
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December 14, 2013

Kiser v. A.W. Chesterton Co., et al. – Mesothelioma Case Damages Begin at Time of Exposure

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In most types of injury litigation, the question of when the damages begin accruing is quite simple: At the time of the injury.

So if you’re involved in a car accident, you would be entitled to compensation for losses that began at the time the crash occurred.

mesothelioma lawsuits in Massachusetts are a bit more complicated, and the reason has to do with the nature of the disease and how it is contracted. The case of Kiser v. A.W. Chesterton Co., et al., reviewed recently by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, offers up a good illustration of the issues at hand.
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December 10, 2013

Sequester Hits Mesothelioma Research

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Mesothelioma is a deadly type of cancer and there are limited treatment options available to victims who suffer from this serious medical condition caused by asbestos exposure. With thousands dying from mesothelioma each year, and the high rate of deaths likely to continue as people who were exposed to asbestos at work decades ago continue to get sick, research into treatments for this aggressive cancer are very important.

Unfortunately, our Boston mesothelioma lawyers know that the Sequester is endangering an important program that is designed to facilitate mesothelioma research. The Sequester refers to an arbitrary cut of the government’s budget that went into effect when Democrats and Republicans were unable to come to a budget agreement that would cut the deficit. When the Sequester was originally proposed by President Obama, both Democrats and Republicans expected that the threat of the Sequester cuts would force some type of agreement to be reached. Unfortunately, instead, these across-the-board cuts that no one wants have now taken effect and are endangering research that could help improve quality-of-life and outcomes for asbestos victims.
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December 4, 2013

Lawmakers Try to Limit the Rights of Asbestos Victims

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Mesothelioma lawyers in Boston know that victims of asbestos exposure face many challenges in collecting full compensation for mesothelioma, asbestosis or other injuries and health damage that is caused by exposure to asbestos. These challenges include the fact that many companies that produced asbestos have gone bankrupt, and the fact that lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses typically do not develop for decades after the victim was initially exposed to the asbestos.

Unfortunately, as if these challenges weren’t enough for people who are seriously ill or who are dealing with the death of a loved one, the government is now trying to make things even harder for asbestos victims. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this November called the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2013, or FACT for short.
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November 30, 2013

Eradicating Asbestos Could Put an End to Mesothelioma Cases

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In the United States every year, an estimated 2,500 people die because they were exposed to asbestos at some point in their life. Many of these victims die from mesothelioma, lung cancer or other illnesses that are caused by asbestos fibers that become lodged in their lungs.

Our Boston mesothelioma lawyers know that the United States government has imposed very strict limitations on the use of asbestos since the dangers of this silicate product were first identified. However, the U.S. remains one of the few industrialized countries throughout the world that has not instituted a comprehensive asbestos ban. In other locations, such as in Spain, a complete ban on asbestos means that there is a projected end-date for mesothelioma deaths.
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November 25, 2013

Knowing the Facts About Asbestos Exposure is Important as Too Many Lives are Still Lost

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Asbestos exposure may seem like a relic of the past since the dangers of asbestos have been known for decades and asbestos is now tightly controlled and no longer used in new buildings or other common products. Unfortunately, mesothelioma lawyers in Boston know that people continue to be exposed to asbestos far too frequently. Not only that, but new cases of mesothelioma and asbestosis are diagnosed every day as people who were exposed decades ago finally become ill as a result of the damage the asbestos fibers have done to their bodies over decades.

As a new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study reveals that Americans are still losing hundreds of thousands of years of productive life because of asbestos, it is more important than ever before for employers and employees to be aware that there are still significant risks that workers will be exposed to and injured by asbestos.
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November 20, 2013

Recent Cases Bring Good News for Asbestos Victims

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Asbestos lawsuits and claims related to mesothelioma and asbestosis continue to arise every day as more and more people get sick because they were exposed to asbestos at some point in their lives. Mesothelioma lawyers in Boston know that many plaintiffs face an uphill battle in obtaining full and fair compensation for serious illnesses caused by asbestos exposure, especially as many asbestos manufacturers have gone bankrupt or companies have gone out of business.

Still, plaintiffs continue to prevail in lawsuits and recover the funds they deserve. For example, several recent cases have brought good news for asbestos victims.
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November 16, 2013

Does Taconite Dust Lead to The Development of Mesothelioma?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer with a very low survival rate. Boston mesothelioma lawyers know that the average length of time a person survives with mesothelioma is just nine to 12 months. Because of the devastating consequences of a mesothelioma diagnosis, it is essential to do everything possible to avoid the risk factors that can result in the development of mesothelioma.

For most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, the cause of their condition is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is made of naturally occurring silicate fibers that, when breathed in, can become lodged in the lining of the lungs as well as in the stomach lining. The fibers cause irritation that, over decades, can eventually result in the development of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Because of the tremendous risks associated with asbestos and the high fatality rates of those exposed, asbestos is largely banned from most products and is tightly regulated today. However, people continue to develop mesothelioma. One study recently took a look at whether this deadly cancer may be caused by taconite dust.
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