The State of Illinois has taken legal action against a building owner and a tenant after it was discovered that they did not follow the correct procedures for removing deadly asbestos from the building. Illinois claims that the owner and tenent not only put themselves at risk of asbestos exposure, but unknowing guests of the building at risk as well. Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against tentent Ben Slotky and building owner Merle Huff after it was discovered that they were incorrectly removing asbestos-filled flooring materials during a renovation project in March 2006.

During that time, the Department of Public Health told the building owner that he was required, by state law, to hire a licensed professional to remove the asbestos. An emergency order was given for them to stop their renovation project until the matter was settled. Mr. Huff ignored this order and continued with the renovation. The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants regulation requires that all buildings are checked for asbestos before any construction or demolition can begin. Mr. Huff is being charged with failure to comply to these laws.

The tenent, Mr. Slotky, is accused of removing asbestos without a license and using unsealed bags to move the hazardous materials. He also failed to decontaminate the area where the asbestos had been found. The men will be heavily fined for their negligent actions.

Learn more about asbestos exposure and speak to a mesothelioma lawyer at Williams Kherkher by calling 800-220-9341.

Heart disease has been the number one killer of people, both in the United States and worldwide; however, this may not be the case for very much longer. According to the World Health Organization, cancer has become an ever-increasing cause of death worldwide. The organization projects the total number of people diagnosed with cancer in 2008 to reach an all time high of 12 million, with 7 million deaths. While smoking seems to be the prominent cause of this increase, the number of cases involving asbestos exposure are shocking as well.

While the United States has had a heavy decrease in smokers, Americans face cancers caused by materials found in our everyday products and in our homes. Asbestos is a serious problem if not recognized and dealt with properly. Fortunately, America has advanced screening methods to detect cancer, giving American citizens a better chance to fight a diagnosis of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently released information that suggested that "the global cancer burden doubled in the last thirty years of the twentieth century, and it is estimated that this will double again between 2000 and 2020, and nearly triple by 2030."

Being knowledgeable about dangerous asbestos sites and products helps people avoid high level exposure to the deadly material, however, some people have been exposed to asbestos as a result of someone else's negligence. If you've been wrongfully exposed to asbestos, contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-220-9341 today.

Working as a firefighther is risky in and of itself, but it isn't only the fire that these brave men and women need to worry about. For the most part, older buildings are more prone to catch fire, given their construction and lack of modern safety features. These types of buildings are typically full of asbestos, whether it be the ceiling tiles, insulation, or other areas of the home. Firefighters need to be extremely careful when entering an older house or building that is on fire.

A recent study showed that firefighters are twice as likely to develop cancer because of their extreme working conditions. In fact, in the past two years, more firefighters have been diagnosed with cancer than in the past 10 years. In the 60s and 70s, it was not uncommon for firefighters to enter a burning building without any breathing equipment. Back then, the dangers of the chemicals released in the fire were unknown. When buildings burn, any asbestos inside will disintegrate into the air and linger there for days. It may also settle on the clothing and equipment of the firefighters, causing them to inhale it even days after the fire was put out.

For this reason, it is recommended that firefighters always wash their clothing and equipment after each job. Leaving their helmet on even after a fire is put out is also recommended to ensure that firefighters don't inhale any asbestos or other chemicals from the site of the fire.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma because an employer failed to provide you with the proper safety equipment, contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-220-9341.

Robert and Geraldine Hilt, married for 43 years, recently won a settlement for an asbestos lawsuit in the amount of $7.5 million. Robert was diagnosed with mesothelioma in early 2008. During his career, Robert worked as a janitor and at several shipyards in the U.S. According to the lawsuit, Robert claims that his condition could have been prevented by the use of safety equipment. Instead, the company that he worked for did little to nothing to keep the employees safe from expsure. He was ultimately exposed to a large number of toxins over the years, including asbestos, diesel, silica, gasoline fume, and solvent.

Mesothelioma could have been prevented by the use of protective masks, or even protective clothing. Unfortunately, this type of protection was not available to many workers of the time. For this reason, the companies where found to be liable for Mr. Hilt's suffering since it is their duty to protect their workers.

Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer  at Williams Kherkher today by calling 966-220-9341.

This November, Jeanie Berggren filed an asbestos lawsuit against her father's former employers and manufacturers of asbestos-filled products after her father was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers, which make their way into our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or can even be absorbed. Without proper protection, these fibers find their way into our bodies, where they cause a variety of health problems, specifically the formation of cancer.

Berggren's lawsuit has been filed to fight for the legal rights of her father, Oliver Larson. According to the lawsuit, Larson was exposed to many different dangerous materials during his career, such as asbestos, toxins, solvent, diesel, silica, and gasoline fume. Larson held many jobs, including research developer, mail carrier, ammunition handler, and security guard from 1939 to 1974. His daughter is seeking compensation for economic damages, compensatory damages, and punitive damages.

Learn more about mesothelioma by contacting our mesothelioma lawyers at Williams Kherkher. Call 800-220-9341 today to schedule your initial meeting with one of our skilled attorneys.