Recently, Bernie Banton, an Australian citizen that suffers from mesothelioma, the currently incurable disease caused by exposure to asbestos, attempted to take a petition with 17,000 signatures to the Australian Health Minister, Tony Abbott, to request that the mesothelioma drug Alimta be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Unfortunately for Mr. Banton, the Health Minister was not available to receive the petition and meet with Mr. Banton. Mr. Banton, in addition to his leadership of the campaign for Alimta to be added to the PBS, also led the effort to convince the company James Hardie to set up a A$4 billion, 40-year asbestos compensation fund.

A study released earlier this month found that workers from a U.S. Coast Guard shipyard had a significantly greater chance of dying from mesothelioma (cancer of the lung’s lining) or lung cancer when compared to the general population.  The study followed over four thousand civilian workers who were employed at the shipyard between 1950 and 1964.  The study, available at http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/64/10/651, followed the workers through the end of 2001, and concluded that the increased risk of cancer is likely related to the workers’ asbestos exposure.   Mesothelioma and lung cancer are both associated with exposure to asbestos.  Of particular concern is the finding of increased rates of mesothelioma among the workers.  Mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.  Symptoms of mesothelioma usually take decades to appear and are often confused with other respiratory ailments.  Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma.    

Because of mesothelioma’s association to asbestos exposure, most who contract the disease qualify to file a mesothelioma lawsuit.  Many trust funds have been set up to compensate the victims of mesothelioma.  If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, immediately contact a mesothelioma lawyer to discuss your options.  For more information, please contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers at Williams Kherkher by calling 1.800.220.9341.  

Dana Corp., an Ohio-based automobile parts manufacturing group, announced in a Manhattan U.S. Bankruptcy Court that it has reached a settlement deal with 7,500 claimants. Dana, which filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2006 to protect itself from lawsuits, feels that the settlement is a good way to avoid litigation while still settling the claims in a reasonable and expedient way. Because many of the 150,000 personal-injury suits involve claimants that have not yet become ill with mesothelioma, only 7% of all suits can be settled at this time. The seven percent is only if all claimants manage to submit the required proof to support their claims. The total amount of claims, if everyone produces proof, will amount to $2 million. If you or someone you know is involved in the production or maintenance of automobile parts, you may be at risk for mesothelioma. Feel free to contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams and Kherkher in Houston.