Asbestos News Roundup: 10.27.09

October 27th, 2009. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news, asbestos lawsuits and settlements and the latest asbestos hot spots—places where asbestos has been found—and that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Jefferson Country, TX: Some 84 companies are facing an asbestos lawsuit filed by 5 people who allege that they or a recently deceased relative developed asbestos-related disease while working near asbestos-containing insulation and other asbestos products at the defendant companies. (Southeasttexasrecord.com)

Asbestos Mesothelioma Settlements

Marshalltown, IA & St. Louis, MO: A $1.5 million settlement has been awarded to the estate of  instrument repairman Ronald Drabczyk  this week, resolving a lawsuit filed following the death of Mr. Drabczyk at Hooker Chemical in Buffalo, New York. He was exposed to asbestos on the job. (Reuters)

Asbestos Hot Spots

Fulton, IL: The local high school has been shut down, and the homecoming game canceled, due Read the rest of this entry »

Chantix and the Damage Done

October 27th, 2009. By janem

I’ve interviewed many people who’ve taken Chantix to help quit smoking. They talk about the damage it caused, not only to themselves, but their family and friends. All their stories are upsetting but just now I talked with Tim and his account is heart-wrenching.

Tim’s wife died from cancer a few months ago, but his grief is compounded by the fact that he was never able to apologize to her. “Soon after I took Chantix I was so short-tempered; I would get mad at my wife, Judy, for any little thing,” says Tim, his voice breaking. “Now that Judy is dead, I can’t say sorry for being so mean.”

“Judy and I were long-distance truck drivers, we were a team,” Tim explains. “When I got on the Chantix, we argued constantly on the truck. I just thought it was from nicotine withdrawal, but even our friends asked Judy what was wrong with me. Before Chantix, I was happy-go-lucky…

Judy could just move a pop can and I would get irate.  And I was mad at myself because I was making her so upset but I had no idea why. Sometimes I’d be driving and forget where I was. I’m talking about driving a semi. It was dangerous. It got so bad that I thought of wrecking the truck more than once, then we would both die. I just kept hurting her…

I saw an ad on TV a few weeks ago that explained how Chantix causes mood swings, suicidal thoughts and aggression. I didn’t read the Chantix warning label because my doctor said, ‘Just go ahead and try Chantix; it’s a new drug and pretty much reliable’. I guess that’s the problem with new drugs-you don’t know the side effects until it’s too late.

If I knew of the Chantix side effects, or if my doctor explained them to me, I wouldn’t have tried it. And I won’t be beating myself up now. And I’m smoking again. I’m really irate at the drug company and I’m so upset just thinking about it, knowing how much I hurt my wife.”

Yaz, Yasmin, Gardasil: Are Young Women Just Guinea Pigs?

October 27th, 2009. By LucyC

A couple of interesting news releases came across my desk this morning: the first is about two new lawsuits filed against Bayer AG alleging the company’s birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin have caused two young women life-threatening health events. The second is about the Gardasil vaccine—more on that in a minute. 

First the Yaz lawsuits. Short version: Judith M. Woodall and Tasha Marcell allege that they sustained “severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering, and emotional distress as a result of their use of Yaz.” 

To be specific, the news release states: “Ms. Woodall, a resident of Tennessee, first began using Yaz in approximately November 2008. That same month, she suffered a saddle pulmonary embolus and deep vein thrombosis. Ms. Marcell, a resident of Georgia, began taking Yaz in October 2007. She also suffered a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis shortly after she began using the medication.” Hold that thought. 

Now the Gardasil press release. One of the researchers involved in the development of the HPV vaccine spoke at a medical conference earlier this month, and instead of towing the company line—in this case the company is Merck—she is reported to have said “70 percent of all HPV infections resolve themselves without treatment within a year. Within two years, Read the rest of this entry »

It’s [Asbestos] Showtime…at the Apollo!

October 23rd, 2009. By AbiK

Asbestos abatement time, that is.

According to the Gov Monitor (10/23/09), the Apollo Theater Foundation will receive $2.9 million as part of an award from New York’s Downstate Revitalization Fund. The monies will go to helping restore the iconic theater—the one where not only countless legends (Billie Holiday, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson…) have performed but also where amateurs get judged by an audience that can boo someone off the stage in a manner that makes Simon Cowell look like a pussycat (if you can remember staying up on Saturday nights to watch superstar wannabes give it their all, you know what I mean).

The Downstate Revitalization Fund, which is administered by Empire State Development, will allow the Apollo to continue work on a $72 million capital improvement project which includes roof and wall repairs, asbestos abatement and heating and cooling system replacement.

I’m glad whatever the asbestos situation at the Apollo is, it will be taken care of. And it just goes to show you how much of the stuff still lingers in buildings great and small everywhere.

Worst Credit Card Ever? Hint: 79.9% APR (oh, but that is not all)

October 23rd, 2009. By AbiK

Need credit real bad? So bad that you’ll go almost anywhere for it so long as they accept your application? I’ve got the credit card for you: a First Premier credit card. But you also have to be willing to pay a price—a hefty one. I took a moment to read through the fine print over at First Premier and it’s like reading a Dr. Seuss book…”oh, but that is not all…oh no, that is not all!” (thank you Cat in the Hat)…until all hell breaks loose.

The folks at First Premier are not fools. They see a market and they pounce. With phrases like “Application responses in less than 60 seconds!” you can’t help but feel you’re beating the credit bureau bureaucracy when someone’s going to process your credit application in less than one minute flat. But then again, you also can’t help but raise an eyebrow—and you should.

I’m sure you’ve seen the reports lately about First Premier offering a 79.9% APR credit card deal. Outlandish? Yes. But such a rate is so out there that I can’t really give it any credence. Who in their right mind would take First Premier up on such a deal? No, the real eye-opener is when you go to apply for a First Premier credit card. Here’s what you find out…

The APR is listed as 9.9%. Ok. That seems pretty good. But let’s put on some readers and check out the proverbial fine print.

It’s a Fee-for-All!

Here are the fees associated with the privilege of carrying a First Premier credit card: Read the rest of this entry »