Asbestos Mesothelioma Archive
Asbestos News Roundup: 7.9.10
July 9th, 2010. By LucyC
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.
Asbestos Lawsuits
St. Clair County, IL: Another asbestos lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County this week, by Donna Stinson of Virginia. It is the 15th asbestos lawsuit of the year in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Mrs. Stinson has named 98 companies as defendants in her lawsuit, which alleges that they caused her recently deceased husband, Gerald P. Stinson, to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career as a boilermaker from 1963 until 2001.
As a result of his asbestos-related diseases, the suit claims, Mr. Stinson became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish. Furthermore, the illnesses prevented him from pursuing his normal course of employment and, as a result, he lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him.
The suit claims that the defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the plaintiffs’ or their deceased relative’s safety, the suit states. (madison.com)
Asbestos Hot Spots
Narragansett, RI: Asbestos has been round in roof panels of the changing rooms at the North Pavilion bathouse in Narragansett, RI. As a result, the pavilion has been closed to the public while workers remove the asbestos-containing material—a job made all the more urgent as a result of the current extreme heat the East coast is experiencing.
According to local news reports, the Narragansett bathhouse pavilion is at least 50 years old, meaning it was constructed at a time when asbestos was commonly used on building materials, without much knowledge of the health consequences. Because asbestos exposure can lead to fatal chronic illness such as asbestos mesothelioma, the town of Narragansett is currently on a mission to remove all asbestos from any establishments in the town. This process is expected to more than a couple of years. (huliq.com)
The Jeffrey Asbestos Mine Debacle
Montreal, PQ: French Canadians heard the voices of international protestors this week, as people and organizations from around the world petitioned the Canadian and Quebec Read the rest of this entry »
Asbestos News Roundup: 7.2.10
July 2nd, 2010. By LucyC
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.
Asbestos Hot Spots
Quebec, CA: The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) have joined the Canadian Cancer Society’s appeal to the Quebec government urging them not to approve a $58 million loan guarantee for the Jeffrey Asbestos mine in Quebec.
If the loan is approved, it would give the mine, which is currently under bankruptcy protection, another 25 years of life. The 131-year old mine is one of a handful that remain in Canada, the fifth-largest exporter of chrysotile to developing countries, including India and Indonesia.
The mine is located in the town of Asbestos, east of the provincial capital of Quebec, Montreal. (The Montreal Gazette.com)
Asbestos Law
Chicago, IL: Three Illinois real estate developers, Michael J. Pinski, 41, of Kankakee, Duane L. O’Malley, 57, of Bourbonnais, and James A. Mikrut, 47, of Manteno, have been indicted for illegally dumping asbestos in an open field in Hopkins Park, Illinois.
Pinski and his associates are each charged with five felony counts of violating the Clean Air Act for their alleged actions in illegally removing and disposing of asbestos from a building owned by Pinski’s company, Dearborn Management, Inc.
The allegations state that 127 trash bags were removed from the Kankakee building in 2009, after Pinski hired O’Malley and his company, Origin Fire Protection, for the remediation work. The plastic bags reportedly contained asbestos, which O’Malley and his employees were not trained or certified to Read the rest of this entry »
Asbestos News Roundup: 6.24.10
June 24th, 2010. By LucyC
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.
Asbestos Law
Ventura, CA: The owner of an apartment complex in Ventura, and the general contractor he hired to remove asbestos contaminated popcorn ceilings from several units in the complex, are facing a possible $10,000 fine for improper removal of the contaminated building debris.
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District tested some of the materials being removed from the ceilings and found an elevated level of asbestos. Both Tony Biedul, the owner and Bill Bigler, the contractor who owns Quality Custom Painting, were issued numerous notices of violation, each carrying a fine of as much as $10K. The apartments were built in 1964. (VenturaTimes.com)
Asbestos Hot Spots
San Francisco, CA: The San Francisco Gate reported this week that the Sierra Nevada trails in California are pockmarked with asbestos contaminated soil around the mouths of now defunct gold mines. The Sierra Nevada was made famous during the gold rush when thousands of mine shafts were dug and operated, and which now stand abandoned. However, the area is among California’s most popular recreation sites. (SFChronicle.com)
The asbestos dust—and asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in this area—was brought up to the surface by the miners, and settled into the soil. But the toxic fibers can be stirred up by bicycles, horses, hikers, and off-road recreational vehicles. In an interview with the SF Gate, Elizabeth Martin, chief executive for the non-profit Sierra Fund, said that as well as bringing hundreds of thousands of people to California, the gold rush “also brought mining machines that ripped down sides of mountains and tunneled thousands of feet into rock, leaving behind arsenic and lead. This is the longest neglected environmental problem in California.”
Researchers for the agency recently conducted soil tests on 80 samples from 11 trails and recreation spots in the Foresthill, Downieville and Nevada City areas. They reportedly found extremely high levels of asbestos, along with arsenic and lead. The group says California’s 47,000 abandoned mines pose significant threats to public safety, particularly in the dry summer months when families flock to the foothills. (SFGate.com)
Guilderland, NY: Classes have been suspended and students sent home at Westmere Elementary School Thursday, following what is being reported as a “minor asbestos disturbance.”
At about 8:30 am Wednesday morning, contractors working in the custodial area disturbed the asbestos. The area is now closed and will remain so until asbestos abatement has been completed. Test results are due back Thursday afternoon, and if the results are negative the school will reopen Friday. (CBS06 News)
Louisville, KY: Asbestos has been discovered in the office of now deceased George Unseld, a Metro Councilman for Louisville. Unseld collapsed in his office on June 11, and died later at the University of Louisville Hospital. The asbestos has been found in the mastic which is the glue under the carpet in his office. The asbestos was discovered when the carpet was being removed.
Asbestos News Roundup: 6.18.10
June 18th, 2010. By LucyC
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.
Asbestos Lawsuits
Charleston, WV: The executrix of the estate of man who was diagnosed with asbestos mesothelioma and subsequently died of it has filed a lawsuit naming 60 defendant companies as contributing to her husband’s untimely death.
Doris Hunt is the wife of George F. Hunt, who died Feb. 19, 2010. Mr. Hunt was employed by Union Carbide from 1947 until 1987 as a laborer, according to the complaint, which also states that on September 29, 2009, Mr. Hunt was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The defendants are being sued for negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of expressed/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentation and post-sale duty to warn, according to the suit. (westvirginiarecord.com)
Madison County, IL: A total of 14 new asbestos cases were filed in Madison County between May 24 and 28, 2010. Among the suits is a complaint filed by Raymond and Carolyn Haske of Michigan who allege that Raymond developed mesothelioma after his work from 1971 to 2007 as a laborer, heavy equipment operator, pipefitter and mechanic helper.
Marty J. Keay of Illinois, is also among the people who have filed suits. He was self-employed as a home repairer and remodeler from 1965 until 1971; a field worker for the Booneville State Training School Read the rest of this entry »
Asbestos News Roundup: 6.10.10
June 10th, 2010. By AbiK
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.
Asbestos Lawsuits
Tyler, TX: Claudia Headley’s husband and sons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Shell Energy North America LP, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., and Alon USA. Mrs. Headley was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and subsequently died from the disease. She passed away on May 30, 2008.
The lawsuit claims that Mrs. Headley was exposed to asbestos fibers when she would wash her husband’s, father’s, and son’s clothing; all three men worked in refineries where they were exposed to asbestos.
The companies named as defendants are alleged to have breached their duties to provide a safe place to work, to warn of the hazards of employment, to protect independent contractors from work-related hazards, and in taking precautions to protect the safety of others when an employee performs work that is inherently dangerous and to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury to others. The lawsuit also states that as a result of the male Headley’s working in this environment, the defendants would have known that Mrs. Headley’s exposure to asbestos dust and particles was unavoidable.
In the suit the plaintiffs are seeking wrongful death damages for pecuniary loss, termination of the husband-wife relationship, mental anguish, loss of household services, termination of the parent-child relationship, necessary medical, funeral and burial expenses, exemplary damages, interest and court costs. (setexasrecord.com)
Asbestos Hot Spot
Carbondale, IL: A chemical fire that caused damage at Southern Illinois University’s Neckers Lab last week will now cost more than expected to clean up. Initial estimates for the clean-up were at $250,000, however, since the discovery of asbestos—used in the construction of the lab—the estimate is now at over $1 million.
According to University spokesman, Rod Sievers, once workers started to clean up the site, they found asbestos had been used to wrap some of the pipes—and that will need to be removed.
Adding to the cost of the clean-up is the lack of insurance—according to Sievers, “Some of the contents were insured, some of the contents were not.”
The fire broke out when a student who was cleaning the lab with hydrocarbons got too close to a heat source. The fire has been ruled an accident, and the student will not be held responsible. (wsiltv.com)
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