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Why Asbestos Continues to be Used in Industry

June 29, 2014 By

Asbestos is a substance which has been used by mankind for centuries. It is no wonder, then, that ceasing to use the substance has proven incredibly difficult, even after asbestos was proven to be deadly to human beings. As will be seen in the following video there are still experts who claim that there is a safe way for asbestos to be used and incorporated into American society, so long as the right kind of asbestos – a kind which supposedly poses little risk to people’s lungs – is used.

http://youtu.be/RZm7u6z6tLI

As can be seen at the end of the video there are those in the medical community who continue to be adamantly against using asbestos, even a kind which supposedly poses very little risk. But as long as asbestos continues to have its defenders, and continues to be legal, it is likely that it will continue to sicken people with deadly illnesses.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos related disease, or if a loved one has died from an asbestos related illness, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: California abestos

What is Asbestosis?

June 22, 2014 By

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease which results from asbestos exposure. Like other asbestos related diseases, asbestosis is caused by the irritation asbestos fibers produce and lung tissue, and the lungs’ attempts to repair themselves which leads to inflammation.

The severity of a patient’s asbestosis illness is directly correlated to the duration of their asbestos exposure – meaning how many months or years they were exposed to the substance, and the amount of fibers that was inhaled during such exposure.

Mild asbestosis may produce relatively few symptoms in the patient, while severe cases can be extremely debilitating or even deadly. Symptoms of asbestosis include increasing shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains.

Asbestosis can reach result in such conditions as lung calcification, fluid on the lungs, and even the development of mesothelioma. Currently there is no cure for asbestosis.

The following video will give you more information regarding what is asbestosis.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos related disease, or if a loved one has died from an asbestos related illness, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California asbestosis

The Roller Coaster of Mesothelioma Treatment

June 15, 2014 By

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which affects the respiratory systems of those who have been exposed to asbestos. Usually asbestos exposure only results in mesothelioma years after the initial contact, with 25 to 30 years being typical. Mesothelioma is currently a terminal disease which has no known cure.

Despite the fact that there is no existing way to cure mesothelioma, there are nevertheless various experimental treatments which are currently being investigated. As can be seen in the following video, those undergoing such experimental treatments, and their families, experience a roller coaster of emotions as they battle the disease and hope for the best.

In a perfect world diseases like mesothelioma would not exist. As it has been linked directly to asbestos exposure, a cessation of asbestos exposure among the population should lead to a cessation of mesothelioma cases. However, considering the fact that asbestos has been used in millions of products over many decades, it is a sad reality that such cases will continue to plague U.S. society for years to come.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos related disease, or if a loved one has died from an asbestos related illness, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma

Asbestos Liability Now Extended to Immediate Family Members of Exposed Individuals

June 8, 2014 By

Companies which used asbestos in their products have faced hundreds of lawsuits over the past several decades. The majority of these lawsuits have been filed by, or on behalf of, those who have been directly affected by the deadly substance as a result of having worked for such companies. However, a recent asbestos related lawsuit was meant to test just how far the law reaches as it relates to the contraction of asbestos related illnesses.

At issue was the nephew of a man who, several decades ago, used to work with asbestos and bring it home on his clothing. The man’s nephew visited with him frequently at the time and was exposed continuously to the substance. The nephew eventually developed mesothelioma, a rare cancer which is only produced by asbestos exposure. The nephew, in his forties, is now suing Pneumo Abex – company which was responsible for exposing his uncle to the asbestos.

Originally, a trial court found that Pneumo Abex owed no duty to the nephew. But, disagreeing with the trial court, the First Appellate District Court of Appeals ruled that the company would have to stand trial for the asbestos exposure of the nephew. In the ruling justice Stuart Pollak wrote that the case deals with the “asserted liability of a negligence manufacturer to a plaintiff for injuries arising as a result of the plaintiff’s exposure to a harmful substance through contact with the manufacturer’s employee away from the manufacturer’s premises.”

If you have become ill with asbestos related disease, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Asbestos lawsuits

Survivors of Actor Ed Lauter Sue Various Corporations for His Asbestos Exposure

June 1, 2014 By

Actor Ed Lauter died of mesothelioma recently. The perennial actor has appeared in hundreds of television and movie productions, and would undoubtedly be instantly recognizable to millions of TV and movie buffs across the country. In attempting to seek justice for Ed’s exposure to asbestos, which ultimately led to his development of the deadly disease, Lauter’s survivors filed a lawsuit in April which named various recognizable industrial and media corporations with which Lauter had worked over the years. Among those listed include:

  • Ford Motor Company
  • CBS Corporation
  • Honeywell International, Inc.
  • John Crane, Inc.
  • Ingersoll-Rand PLC
  • General Electric Company

The filing essentially claims that Lauter was exposed to asbestos by all of these companies, and several more. It attempts to establish that these companies all had knowledge that asbestos was dangerous, but nevertheless exposed Lauter to the industrial substance without providing him with adequate protection.

Perhaps most surprisingly is the contention that between “approximately 1958-1979” the actor was exposed to asbestos at various movie studios and filming location sets. If successful, the lawsuit may trigger a new era in asbestos litigation, an era which sees employers be held ever more responsible for the long-term health consequences suffered by their employees.

If you have become ill with asbestos related disease, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Asbestos lawsuits, Asbestos Mesothelioma, California abestos

Man Sentenced After Allowing Asbestos to Blow Freely onto Beach

May 24, 2014 By

Among the general population the awareness of the dangers associated with asbestos is probably relatively low. And among those who are aware of the substance’s dangers, many people likely have very little idea exactly why asbestos is dangerous. But among the population of building renovators and contractors, knowledge of asbestos and its dangers is considerably high, which is why a recent case in which a contractor mishandled asbestos is resulting in jail time.

South Carolina contractor David Braswell’s company, Cool Cote LLC, was selected to remove siding panels at a local Myrtle Beach hotel in 2009. Instead of properly handling the asbestos which was contained in the siding, Braswell allowed the substance to blow on to the beach, in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. This kind of reckless behavior not only put half beach goers at risk, but it also put areas of the beach at risk of contamination.

Braswell was indicted last year, after it was found that he and his company did not provide protection to the employees who were conducting the operations  or file for the proper inspections. Braswell was recently convicted of not only mishandling the asbestos, but also misleading authorities. He was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement, three years’ probation, and a $10,000 fine.

Materials containing asbestos containing are practically ubiquitous in the United States and across much of the Western world. As can be seen here, despite the fact that many employers are aware of the dangers, many of them continue to put their employees in harm’s way. If you have become ill with asbestos related disease, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Asbestos in Everyday Household Items -video-

May 16, 2014 By

Asbestos was, and continues to be, used in a wide variety of products which are manufactured for both household and industrial applications. Though it is no excuse, it is no surprise that companies fought so hard to continue to use the substance, even after it became clear that asbestos exposure led to serious illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Modern consumers would be absolutely shocked at the vast number of everyday items which either contain asbestos or were manufactured with the substance in the past.

In the following video, you will see walk through of a typical Australian home with an expert pointing out various areas where asbestos related products were used. This video was produced for the Australian market, but it is just as relevant for those living in the United States.

 

Companies which relied on asbestos for the manufacturing of their products put consumers and workers in grave danger. Many people have fallen ill with asbestos related diseases, diseases from which they will never recover. If you or someone you know has suffered the results of asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California abestos

-video- Asbestos and the History of Business Putting Profits before People

May 8, 2014 By

Asbestos has been used in industrial applications across the Western world for well over hundred years, and has been used by mankind in general for thousands of years. But despite this widespread use, health officials have known for decades that asbestos exposure can be fatal. Given this fact, many people wonder why asbestos was used in so many products over the years, and wonder why governments of various countries, knowing the risks, did not do more to protect their citizens. As can be seen in the following video, various business interests worked diligently over the years to ensure that a steady supply of asbestos laden products would continue to be introduced into the market.

Sadly, many people’s lives have been ruined by asbestos exposure, exposure which could have and should have been prevented. The fact that asbestos causes irreparable damage to the human body, and has been studied for over 100 years in this regard, makes asbestos exposure one of the most well documented industrial hazards in modern history. But, business leaders decided that it would be more cost effective to deny the fact that asbestos was causing severe respiratory illness in workers, leading to hundreds of thousands of anguishing and unnecessary deaths.

If you or a loved on have developed asbestos related disease, please contact the California asbestos and mesothelioma accident attorneys of Brayton Purcell, LLP, immediately at (800) 598-0314 for a free consultation, or contact us online

 

Filed Under: California abestos

-Video- How Asbestos Causes Lung Diseases

April 29, 2014 By

When attempting to describe the way asbestos causes lung related diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, sometimes it can be difficult to convey in words exactly how the process works.  For those interested in getting a better idea of why an asbestos fibers cause such devastating diseases, we have attached a video which was produced to explain the process.

While watching this video remember that not only is asbestos encountered during home and building renovations and demolitions, as pointed out by the speaker, but asbestos is also encountered in a wide variety of older manufactured products including roofing materials, piping materials, and auto parts.  This video demonstrates just one of many ways in which a person who eventually develops an asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, may have come into contact with the substance.  But, as has been demonstrated by scientists across the world, exposure to asbestos treated products can be every bit as deadly as exposure to asbestos when updating or demolishing a building.

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma

Companies Attempt to Trick Consumers into Waiving Their Rights to Sue

April 22, 2014 By

A disturbing new trend among American manufacturers is causing alarm among those who are responsible for protecting American citizens from defective products and services.

In an attempt to limit their liability, some American manufacturers, and makers of other products, are attempting to trick consumers into waving their legal rights to sue for defective products.  The attempt is so surreptitious that it’s almost difficult to believe: companies are beginning to put wording on their web sites such that if you perform such actions as downloading a coupon, or liking the company on a social media website, according to the verbiage you will effectively be waving your right to sue the company or join in a class action lawsuit against it.

This is an attempt by companies to limit their liability payouts by forcing consumers to deal with the companies directly in an arbitration setting.  By limiting consumers’ access to the U.S. court systems, these companies hope to be able to avoid some of the larger rulings for damages that they have seen in previous years.  This essentially amounts to companies looking to shield themselves from being liable for their negligence and outright deception against the consumer.

We have seen over the years that American companies have been willing to cover up the fact that they were aware of the damaging affects related to asbestos and mesothelioma.  It is unconscionable that a consumer may unwittingly waive his or her right to seek just compensation for injuries sustained due to a defective product, simply because they used a company’s coupon years before they were made aware of the company’s deceptive practices and the dangers involved with the company’s products.

The California asbestos and mesothelioma accident attorneys of Brayton Purcell, LLP, are experts in helping those who have been exposed to asbestos. Call us today at (800) 598-0314 for a free consultation, or contact us online.

Filed Under: California abestos
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