An asbestos lawsuit filed by a Vidor, Texas couple is against over 100 corporate defendants, according to a news story in the Southeast Texas Record. The reason for the high number of defendants is because the plaintiff was a truck driver who regularly visited the premises of the defendants. Though the asbestos lawsuit doesn’t say which member of the couple is the plaintiff, the Record reports that medical records attached to the lawsuit show that Charles Dees was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2007 and had occupational asbestos exposure from 1950-1980.

Some of the defendants in this asbestos lawsuit include Chevron, BP, AMF Incorporated and A.W. Chesterton. The couple, Charles Dees and Mary Guidroz, are suing for exemplary damages and allege that the companies “negligently used asbestos insulation on their premises,” and that the facilities were an unsafe place to work. They also allege that the companies did not test asbestos products.

It will be interesting to see how this asbestos lawsuit turns out. Asbestos exposure can be extremely harmful, and many workers have been exposed to it while on the job. People who worked in the construction, shipbuilding and automotive industries may have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that does not have a cure.

Mesothelioma attacks the lining of various body organs, and it can actually take decades for noticeable symptoms to appear. This is why all too often people do not realize that the cause of their illness is asbestos exposure.

Don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer for help if you or a loved one have mesothelioma, or if you were exposed to asbestos. If you have questions about mesothelioma or asbestos exposure, please call 1-888-370-0121 to speak with a resource professional.

John McTaggart, the founder of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, passed away on November 4 from mesothelioma. He was 79 years old. First diagnosed with mesothelioma in April of 2007, McTaggart was told he had just 30 months to live. According to an article in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News, McTaggart’s family members said that he had undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments “with an upbeat attitude” and functioned so well with it that they thought, “He’s just going to live on forever.” Sadly, his health began to decline, and his wife remarked that she thought he had decided “enough is enough.”

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can be caused by asbestos exposure. There is no cure for it, only treatment. Victims of mesothelioma must deal with quite a bit of pain and suffering — and so do their loved ones. The cancer develops very quickly and attacks the lining of various organs of the body, including the lungs. Though mesothelioma develops quickly, it can take decades after asbestos exposure for symptoms to become noticeable. So all too often, people do not realize the cause of their illness.

Mr. McTaggart was a notable man who accomplished so much in his life and is remembered fondly by his family, friends and all who knew him. He was a city councilman for 20 years and served as mayor four times. A resident of Rancho Palos Verdes since 1962, he is credited as being instrumental in the city’s founding and never stopped being devoted to the community. He will certainly be missed.

Mesothelioma Victim’s Rights

If you or a loved one have mesothelioma, know your rights. Having it can result in tremendous medical bills as well as undue stress, pain and suffering for not just the victim, but the victim’s loved ones. To speak with a resource person further about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, feel free to call 1-888-370-0121.

Several months ago, we wrote about how residents of Libby, Montana had suffered asbestos exposure from a nearby mine. At the time, over 200 people had died from asbestos poisoning, with an estimated 500 in Libby and the town of Troy, Montana experiencing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. After declaring a public health emergency, the Environmental Protection Agency called for the town to be cleaned up over the following five years. This week, people with illnesses from asbestos exposure in the town are starting to receive federally-funded medical care.

Screenings with begin next week, on November 16. To be eligible, the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) website says that a person must have lived, recreated or worked in the Libby area prior to the year 2015 for at least six months. Those six months do not have to be consecutive. Additionally, it must have been at least 10 years since your first potential exposure to asbestos in the Libby area. To sign up for a screening, you just need to call CARD or come into the clinic to complete an application.

With a population of about 2,600 people, Libby suffers 40 to 80 times the national average in its rate of death from asbestos. According to the CARD website, there have been 33 cases of malignant mesothelioma recorded since 1977, and 9 of those cases were caused by environmental asbestos exposure. Studies done have showed lung cancer rates are 30% higher in the Libby population than in similar non-asbestos exposed populations.

An Associated Press story explained that the W.R. Grace and Co. Mine — along with its processing plants — “spewed asbestos” for 70 years, coating the town with the dangerous fibers and putting residents in great danger. Employees of the mine had also unknowingly tracked asbestos from work into their homes, since they were wearing contaminated clothing and shoes.

People affected can get more information about care and stay up to date at LibbyAsbestos.org. Medical care for the victims is funded by a $6 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Mesothelioma settlements can range anywhere from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars, and they’re important to know about because it’s rare that a lawsuit involving asbestos exposure and mesothelioma makes it to trial. The avenue of exposure and political climate in the region at the time can both be influential when it comes to mesothelioma settlements. The damage done to the victim as a result of asbestos exposure, the culpability of the defendant and the factors listed above are ultimately what the amount the mesothelioma settlement is dependent on. With mesothelioma settlements, all parties involved are able to avoid protracted legal battles.

What do Mesothelioma Settlements Account for?

Lost wages, pain and suffering and the cost of long-term medical treatment are all things that mesothelioma settlements must account for. And if mesothelioma resulted in a wrongful death, the settlement then must account for the deceased’s survivors’ pain and suffering, plus the funeral expenses.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. Typically caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma does not have a cure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that, for decades, was used in the construction, shipbuilding and automotive industries. Since it can take decades after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma symptoms to become noticeable, many people fail to realize that asbestos exposure is the cause of their illness.

A deadly disease, mesothelioma develops very quickly — the life expectancy of a patient is typically just months. It is very important to diagnose mesothelioma as early as possible in order to maintain a relatively high quality of life.

Questions About Mesothelioma Settlements

If you or a loved one have suffered asbestos exposure, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer for help. If you have questions about mesothelioma settlements, please call 1-888-370-0121 to speak with a resource professional.