An appeal by W.R. Grace Company was denied by the Montana Supreme Court on Monday, paving the way for a criminal trial against the company. In 2005, the company and several officers were indicted on charges relating to improper disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Their disposal has caused large numbers of residents of Libby, Montana, to suffer from mesothelioma – a fatal disease that can only be caused by asbestos exposure. Many of the residents have died from such asbestos-related diseases. If convicted, the executives of the company could be facing fifteen years in prison. W R Grace Company could be facing up to $280 million in damages. The company has already agreed to refund to the federal government $250 million to cover decontamination costs in Libby. To learn more, contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers at Williams Kherkher at 1.800.220.9341.

Actor David Nicholls, 58, was featured in many great movies during his career, including the two box office giants - Gladiator and Gangs of New York. Nicholls, who died recently from mesothelioma, enjoyed a successful film career after serving in the British Army and the police force. He was first exposed to asbestos at the age of fifteen when he took a job at a factory and worked with asbestos pipe covering on a daily basis. While the use of asbestos has been banned in the United States for quite some time, many people were exposed to the dangerous substance several decades ago when the material was frequently used for insulation purposes. Forty years after the initial asbestos exposure, Nicholls was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs. Despite this devastating diagnosis, Nicholls worked to raise funds for the ongoing research of the disease and worked to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. The actor's struggle with the disease ended on June 23, 2008.

According to newly released research from Denmark, patients suffering from non-resectable pleural mesothelioma could benefit from the combination of several drugs, including Navelbine and Platinol. Mesothelioma affects thousands of Americans every year and is the result of years of asbestos exposure. While the life expectancy for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma is around one year, a chemotherapy treatment of Navelbine and Platinol may extend a patient's life from one to three years. Research is still being completed to truly understand the full effects of these drugs. If you have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 866-950-9000.

An investigation has recently begun to explain why men from a region of northeastern Minnesota are developing mesothelioma at an alarming rate which is twice the national average. The University of Minnesota is leading the investigation through the School of Public Health.  The university seeks to understand the reasons behind the recent deaths of many taconite miners due to the rapid development of mesothelioma. Scientists are working to investigate the dangers of taconite, as well as the contents of the air that the miners inhale on a daily basis. Mesothelioma is commonly linked to asbestos exposure, however, nothing has proven the existence of asbestos in the taconite or the air that they miners breathe in recent studies. Researchers and scientists will continue to examine the working conditions of these miners until an explanation is revealed. For more information about mesothelioma, contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 866-950-9000.

Michael Gonzales died of mesothelioma, the deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. On May 30, 2008, his estate has filed a suit against 12 defendants in Madison County Circuit Court in Illinois, claiming that Michael’s disease was wrongfully caused. The defendant corporations include Atlas Asbestos Company, Bell Asbestos Mines, Bondex International, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Trust, Foseco, Georgia-Pacific, John Crane, Pneumo Abex, RPM International, RPM Inc., and T.H Agriculture and Nutrition. Mr. Gonzales was employed from 1951 to 1987 as a chipper, grinder and welder. In this capacity he worked at various locations. While on the job and during home and automotive repairs, he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers emanating from certain products made by these companies. Gonzales was diagnosed with Mesothelioma on October 3, 2007, and died on November 24. To learn more, contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers at Williams Kherkher at 1-800-220-9341.