Asbestos Mesothelioma Archive

Max Did It His Way for Libby

December 29th, 2009. By Hunter West

The final vote on what will be an historic event precluding the passage of President Obama’s health care bill Christmas Eve was preceded by a close vote in the Senate in the wee hours last Monday morning. It passed by the slimmest of margins—and that’s after weeks of lobbying and wrangling individual senators to gain their support.

The Republicans have been crying foul. Other critics say that the bill reeks of political pork and pet projects in exchange for support and precious votes. 

On the surface the criticism seems justified—although defenders point out that a union of states (which is what the United States of America is) remains a democracy and negotiation is just part of the process. True, say the critics—but that kind of stuff just drives the price of health care reform through the roof by advocating for the few, to the detriment of the many.

But dig a little deeper and you suddenly begin to understand…

Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) is chairman of the Finance Committee and principal author of the health care bill. So one has to wonder if he had anything to do with a cryptic proposal, which The New York Times described on Sunday as ‘inconspicuous’, expanding Medicare to cover certain victims of “environmental health hazards.”

“The intended beneficiaries are identified in a cryptic, mysterious way,” writes Robert Pear in the Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Libby, Libby MT, Max Baucus, Senator Baucus, WR Grace
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.29.09

December 29th, 2009. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Jefferson County, Texas: Maudry Granger, the widow of an equipment operator, has filed a lawsuit against 30 companies, alleging their asbestos-containing products caused her husband’s death. She filed the lawsuit individually and on behalf of the estate of Rufus Granger, who was allegedly “required to work with and around asbestos and asbestos containing products while engaged in the course of his employment as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver and laborer.” His exposure to asbestos during work allegedly caused him to suffer from asbestos-related diseases. 

The named defendants include: A.W. Chesterton, American Optical, Bechtel, Crane Co, Fluor Enterprises, Foster Wheeler, Henry Vogt Machine, Honeywell, Ingersoll Rand, John Crane Inc, Lockheed Martin, 3M, Sepco Corp, Treco Construction Services, Uniroyal, Washington Group and Zurn Industries.

Asbestos Hot Spots

Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada: The renovation of the Shangri-La Lodge, a seniors home, has revealed asbestos in a portion of the building that dates back to the 1970s. A predetermined removal process will be followed, and precautions taken to ensure the residents  are protected from any asbestos-related ill effects. (draytonvalleywesternreview.com)

Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada: A report released this month shows that people living near Thetford Mines, an asbestos mine in the Canadian province of Quebec, are at risk for developing asbestos-related illnesses including asbestos mesothelioma. The risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma was found to be 17 times higher than normal. This is due, largely, to the higher concentrations of airborne asbestos dust and fibers present in both the indoor and outdoor areas of the community. (theglobeandmail.com)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.22.09

December 22nd, 2009. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston, WV: An asbestos lawsuit has been filed by Arnold Glenn Treadaway, who named 45 defendant companies in his complaint. Mr. Treadaway alleges that he was exposed to asbestos products of the defendants while working at various job sites over many years. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma on October 16. According to his suit, Treadaway alleges that the defendants were negligent, ran contaminated buildings, and breached their expressed/implied warranty, among other related charges. (WV Record.com )

Asbestos In Schools

Worcester, MA: Martha M. Coakley, the Massachusetts Attorney General, has reached an agreement with the city of Worcester, over charges leveled against pubic school officials in 2007. The school officials were accused of improper handling and disposal of aging asbestos floor tiles from the Vernon Hill School Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.17.09

December 17th, 2009. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. 

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston, WV: CSX Transportation Inc. is being sued by two widows following the deaths of their husbands. The suits allege that their husbands’ deaths resulted from exposure to asbestos-related materials. According to the two complaints, which were filed separately, Nellie Gray Templeton and Ruth Testa claim that their husbands were exposed to asbestos dust, fibers, silica sand, silica dust, coal and/or coal dust.

Nellie Gray Templeton alleges that her husband, Carroll Templeton, was employed at CSX from 1943 until 1982, and during that time he was exposed to asbestos containing materials.  He died as a result of asbestos-causes diseases and/or injuries.

Ruth Testa claims that her husband, Benny J. Testa, who was employed at CSX from 1938 until 1953, was also exposed to asbestos containing materials and dust, and that he died as a result of asbestos-causes diseases and/or injuries.

Both Mrs. Testa and Mrs. Templeton are seeking judgments against CSX Transportation of $1.5 Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.15.09

December 15th, 2009. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Hot Spots

Martinsburg, WV: A former woolen mill repurposed into a community college and county offices was to be closed on December 11 to remove asbestos discovered adjacent to a skylight in the central atrium. The former woolen mill was built in the early 1900s and operated until 1953, then abandoned until repurposed in the 1980s as an outlet mall, a development project which fell through. (Mesotheliomaweb.org) 

Yakima WA: Officials have shut down part of the Tourist Motel, a building with a troubled history, following reports that asbestos and mold were present in the building. In total six sets of tenants were moved from the motel.  (YakimaHerald.com)

Asbestos Fines

St. Louis, MO: Former president and chief of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, Joseph L. Washington, has pled guilty to charges of federal clean air violations. Washington was fired in early December, from his position as fire chief, after he admitted that Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma
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