Articles Posted in Mesothelioma

Edward Merwitz was not warned about the dangers of asbestos when he worked in the bilge area of warships at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the 1960s, nor did he receive protection for asbestos fibers. He worked with asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, pumps, electric motors, turbines, control boxes and electric wire, in addition to being exposed to pipe covering and other insulation products used by people in other trades.

Decades later, the Langhorne, PA resident developed mesothelioma and passed away.

Anapol Weiss attorneys Lawrence R. Cohan and David Carney obtained a $7.25 million verdict for his estate last week in a case against nine asbestos manufacturers. Most of the defendants had settled prior to or during the trial which left Rockbestos as the sole defendant at the time of the verdict. The jury rejected all of Rockbestos’ defenses.

According to a recent article in the Occupational Health & Safety Magazine, a new study has found that for every four to five reported mesothelioma cases worldwide, at least one case goes unreported. This means that thousands more could be affected by this deadly disease than originally believed. It is the first study to give a global estimation of unreported cases of mesothelioma based upon data from countries that collect data regarding mesothelioma and asbestos use. Malignant mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

The study analyzed data that evaluated the relationship between country-level asbestos use from 1920 to 1970 and mesothelioma fatalities reported between 1994 and 2008. In 89 countries (which accounted for over 82 percent of the world’s population in 2000), cumulative asbestos use totaled over 65 million metric tons between 1920 and 1970. The United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, and Germany reported the highest numbers of asbestos use. For the 56 countries that reported mesothelioma data, there were about 174,300 mesothelioma-related fatalities between 1994 and 2008.

Typically, mesothelioma develops about 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Consequently, a country’s cumulative asbestos use in prior decades was discovered to clearly forecast the number of recent mesothelioma-related fatalities in countries that reported mortality data. When the authors of the study extrapolated this discovery to the 33 countries that did not report data regarding mesothelioma-related deaths, they estimated that at least 38,900 additional cases of mesothelioma could have occurred in these countries during the same 15-year time period.

The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm of Anapol Weiss is proud to present its new mesothelioma website, http://pa-mesothelioma-lawyers.com/. This extensive website serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to better understand various factors relating to mesothelioma. The website also provides health and legal information for individuals who have contracted mesothelioma as well as their family members.

The Pennsylvania mesothelioma website will address mesothelioma-related topics, such as facts, statistics, the process of diagnosing the cancer, the treatment options available, causes and symptoms of the disease, the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, and the prognosis and life expectancy of those who have contracted the serious disease.

It is important for anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma to think about their future in terms of finances surrounding medical care and treatment. A person who has contracted mesothelioma due to another’s negligence or oversight may be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages.