Gov't ordered to pay Y77 mil to family of asbestos victim at U.S. base

YOKOSUKA —

The Yokohama District Court ordered the Japanese government Monday to pay about 77 million yen to the family of a deceased man who had suffered mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while working at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Judge Haruhiko Sakae at the Yokosuka branch of the district court ruled the Japanese government and the U.S. forces neglected their safety obligation to employees by not taking necessary safety measures, such as having them wear protective masks.

The judge also said the government was aware of instances of asbestos-related health hazards before the man, Hitoshi Taima, began working at the base in 1977. According to the ruling, Taima had been exposed to asbestos in insulation filling while fixing and setting up air conditioners as an engineer at the base between 1977 and 1995. Taima was diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma in April 2006 and died in May 2007 at the age of 51, after filing the lawsuit against the state based on the U.S. Navy decision that recognized Taima's case as illness and injury suffered in the course of doing one's job duties in March 2007, according to his family.

Some clarifications on mesothelioma study

I am writing to clarify any misunderstanding or misinformation that is out there as a result of last week抯 mesothelioma study update meeting that the University of Minnesota held in Eveleth on June 25.

Because I was asked by some retirees whether or not persons who had worked at LTV and United Taconite would be involved, I want to make it perfectly clear that yes, of course they will be. Study participants will be randomly selected so that the study is not tainted in any way. The main goal is to have the best, most unbiased, study information available from participants so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious disease.

Any current or former mine worker or spouse, whether or not you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another lung disease or disorder or cancer, should feel free to contact the University of Minnesota if you have concerns and want to discuss them further. You should contact the Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study toll free at 866-978-1822. And if you want to learn more, you can access lots of information on the website for the Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study at www.taconiteworkers.umn. edu. You can also submit any questions you have through this website, and you will receive a response.

I hope this clears up any confusion. Also be aware that the U of M has been working with the steelworkers union and the mining companies to obtain lists of current and former workers from all mines including LTV, Erie and other closed mines, so they can be considered for the study also.

And as always, please feel free to contact me with your questions, comments or concerns at 218-749-5690.

Tom Rukavina

State Representative Dist. 5

Virginia, Minn.

Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality—United States, 1999-2005

Malignant mesothelioma is a fatal cancer primarily associated with exposure to asbestos. The latency period between first exposure to asbestos and clinical disease usually is 20-40 years.^1? Although asbestos is no longer mined in the United States, the mineral is still imported, and a substantial amount of asbestos remaining in buildings eventually will be removed, either during remediation or demolition. Currently, an estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers potentially are being exposed to asbestos.² To characterize mortality attributed to mesothelioma, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed annual multiple-cause-of-death records for 1999-2005, the most recent years for which complete data are available.* For those years, a total of 18,068 deaths of persons with malignant mesothelioma were reported, increasing from 2,482 deaths in 1999 to 2,704 in 2005, but the annual death rate was stable (14.1 per million in . . . [Full Text of this Article]

1,063 recognized as sufferers of asbestos-linked diseases

A labor ministry survey showed Monday that 1,063 people were eligible for workers' compensation as sufferers of asbestos-linked diseases such as mesothelioma in fiscal 2008 as they were affected by asbestos while working. The figure was up 6.1 percent from the previous fiscal year, although it was less than the record 1,784 in fiscal 2006, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

In the reporting fiscal year, 1,268 people applied for workers' compensation due to health problems caused by asbestos, up 12.5 percent from fiscal 2007, of whom 560 were diagnosed as mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and 503 as lung cancer, the ministry said. Most of the victims were from the construction and manufacturing industries, the survey showed.

California Mesothelioma Law Firm Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason Adds Two New Associates

Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason, a national law firm with a focus on representing mesothelioma victims, has added two associates to help deepen the firm's expertise and resources in asbestos litigation. The additions expand the firm's professional staff to eight attorneys.

(PRWEB) June 28, 2009 -- Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason, a national law firm with a focus on representing mesothelioma victims, has added two associates to help deepen the firm's expertise and resources in asbestos litigation. The additions expand the firm's professional staff to eight attorneys.

In the past 5 years, CPS&M has obtained more than $50 million in verdicts and settlements for clients throughout the U.S. from the asbestos companies.

Grant Walters obtained his J.D. from the John F. Kennedy School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from the California State University, Hayward. He is admitted to practice in California is an active member of American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California, Marin County Bar Association and San Francisco County Bar Association. Prior to joining CPS&M, Grant was an associate with Brayton Purcell, LLP.
    
Bryn Gallagher obtained her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington and a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University, where she played varsity volleyball. She is admitted to practice in California. Prior to joining CPS&M, Bryn was an associate with Brayton Purcell, LLP.

As one of the original plaintiff-only asbestos firms in the nation, CPS&M currently represents a select number of mesothelioma victims in a variety of cases - including product liability, negligence, premises liability, admiralty and other toxic torts causes for relief.

About Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason
CPS&M has always been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals against corporations and only accepts cases on a contingency basis - meaning their clients never pay for services unless CPS&M successfully handles their matters. CPS&M has an outstanding track record and for more than 30 years has obtained generous compensation for the firm'™s clients. Visit Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason for more information or call 1-800-440-4262.

Asbestos Contamination In Libby, Montana, A "National Tragedy," Says New York Mesothelioma Lawyer

NY attorney Joseph W. Belluck says EPA action underscores the need for further action and health care for area residents exposed to asbestos.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 26, 2009 -- A new federal declaration of a public health emergency in two Montana towns contaminated with asbestos highlights the serious health consequences of asbestos exposure and the need to minimize it, says a New York personal injury attorney.

"The situation in Libby, Montana, is a national tragedy," said Joseph W. Belluck, a partner at the New York law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, which handles asbestos-related injury cases. "It shows how far-reaching the adverse effects of breathing asbestos can be. Not only were the miners affected, but their families and the entire town suffered."

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced Wednesday that the agency has determined a public health emergency exists in the towns of Libby and Troy in northwest Montana. In recent years hundreds of asbestos-related disease cases have been documented in those communities.

It is the first time the EPA has made a determination under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly referred to as the Superfund law, that conditions at a site constitute a public health emergency.

The EPA's action underscores the need for further action and health care for area residents who have been or may be exposed to asbestos, Belluck said.

"Based on what we've seen in our practice, it's no surprise that the first declaration of a public health emergency under CERCLA involves asbestos exposure," Belluck said.

Investigations performed by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have found the incidence of occurrence of asbestosis, a lung condition, in the Libby area to be much higher than the national average for the period from 1979-1998.

To learn more about the public health emergency and other useful information about mesothelioma, go to http://www.aboutmesothelioma.net.

About Belluck & Fox, LLP

Belluck & Fox, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm has won more than $200 million in compensation for its clients and their families.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-know asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine's "the Best Lawyers in the New York Area" and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal's Largest Verdict of the Year.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in the New York Area" and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $12 million.

For more information, contact the firm at 877-695-2909 or through its online contact form.

Iron Range taconite workers and spouses to be checked for mesothelioma

EVELETH, Minn. (AP) -- A random sample of current and former Iron Range taconite workers will soon receive letters inviting them to participate in a screening program for a rare lung disease.

University of Minnesota researchers are selecting 1,200 taconite workers and 800 of their spouses for a study to find out why so many Iron Rangers are dying from mesothelioma.

The letters will be mailed in mid-July and health screenings will begin this fall at the Virginia Regional Medical Center. Results of the screenings will be ready late in 2010. They will be shared with patients and their doctors, but won't be public.

The study is intended to find out if there's a link between taconite dust and mesothelioma, which is more commonly associated with exposure to commercial asbestos.