Do you know the market value of your life insurance policy? You may have a large asset available as cash to you right now. A Viatical settlement is when an insured policy holder receives cash based on the value of the life insurance policy value. The policy is sold to a third party and the insured receives proceeds.
If you or your family owns life insurance that you no longer want because of high premiums, need for cash or other reason - you do not need to just let the policy last. We have buyers in the market who can price up your life policy for a cash settlement or transfer. A life option or viatical settlement allows for policyowners to sell their insurance for a high level cash payout.
Skip to form below to be contacted on possible cash options for your existing life policy.
With the advent of new financial and insurance technology, the amount of life insurance wealthy individuals can purchase usually exceeds the amount their beneficiaries require. The insured can profit during their lifetime, if this "excess" is managed properly.
The availability of a secondary market for life insurance policies ( viatical settlements ), is what makes this possible.
Who is best for a life or viatical cash settlement?
Those over age 65 or
Face amount of the policy is over $200,000
Advantages of a secondary market viatical settlement include:
Reduction or elimination of current premiums.
Reposition non income performing assets into income producing assetsand increasing net spendable income.
Provide assets to use as current gifts to heirs.
In the end, these policy sales are on a case by case basis. Using a professional insurance firm with the best possible market for these life issues will provide the insured with the best possible cash distribution or payout settlement.
If you are in need of legal advice or counsel, please provide thee basic bits of information. We cannot guarantee an accurate quote or be able to contact you without having as much information as possible.
We work with hundreds of buyer companies, so the best cash quote can be gained.
Viatical Life Settlements
Money For Life Insurance
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Peritoneal mesothelioma
The following is an expert piece related to asbestos exposure, disease, treatment and survival. Tens of thousands have become ill or died from various degrees of exposure and the types of related illness.
What is Peritoneal mesothelioma by Roger Sandoval
is a disease that affects the lining of the abdomen, or peritoneum. Occasionally doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. It is a general misunderstanding that mesothelioma is a form of primary lung cancer; it is not. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the serous membranes. These membranes enclose a number of organs throughout the midsection of the body, as well as the abdomen. The most customary type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the serous membranes of the lungs.
The second most regular form of mesothelioma cancer is Peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma can extend to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered secondary lung cancer. Mesothelioma is also at times referred to as an asbestos lung cancer. Technically, this is also inexact, since it does not originate in the lungs. Asbestosis is a type of asbestos lung disease that does originate in the lungs and is often confused with Mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma Cancer
Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is found in 10 of the Mesothelioma patients. The solitary recognized cause of Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. For pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), the disease progression is reasonably well understood. It is initiated by the breathing of asbestos fibers that settle in the lungs. These asbestos fibers become interleaveed in the lung lining (or pleura). Asbestos fibers are very robust and cannot be eliminated through the body's processes. Over time, they cause recurring inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or in some cases asbestosis.
For Peritoneal mesothelioma, it is not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers turn out to be wedged in the abdomen's peritoneum lining. It is likely that asbestos fibers, after being cracked into lesser pieces in the lungs, are carried from the lungs into the blood stream, and embed from the blood stream in the abdomen lining. A more probable basis is that asbestos fibers were consumeed with food or drink. Largely asbestos mining or processing facilities had persistent clouds of asbestos fibers. These fibers may perhaps have settled on the food of the workers. Also, it is well established that several of the workers' clothing became infiltrated with asbestos dust. This dust could have polluted the kitchens of the employees as they arrived home with the polluted clothing. Once lodged in the peritoneum, the chronic inflammation process leading to cancerous growths is similar to that occurring in pleural Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma of the Testicles A infrequent form of Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the male testicles. The covering layer of the scrotum is essentially an outpouching of the peritoneum. It is accepted wisdom that the asbestos fibers migrate from the stomach area to become lodged in the portion of the peritoneum surrounding the scrotum.
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What is Peritoneal mesothelioma by Roger Sandoval
is a disease that affects the lining of the abdomen, or peritoneum. Occasionally doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. It is a general misunderstanding that mesothelioma is a form of primary lung cancer; it is not. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the serous membranes. These membranes enclose a number of organs throughout the midsection of the body, as well as the abdomen. The most customary type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the serous membranes of the lungs.
The second most regular form of mesothelioma cancer is Peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma can extend to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered secondary lung cancer. Mesothelioma is also at times referred to as an asbestos lung cancer. Technically, this is also inexact, since it does not originate in the lungs. Asbestosis is a type of asbestos lung disease that does originate in the lungs and is often confused with Mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma Cancer
Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is found in 10 of the Mesothelioma patients. The solitary recognized cause of Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. For pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), the disease progression is reasonably well understood. It is initiated by the breathing of asbestos fibers that settle in the lungs. These asbestos fibers become interleaveed in the lung lining (or pleura). Asbestos fibers are very robust and cannot be eliminated through the body's processes. Over time, they cause recurring inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or in some cases asbestosis.
For Peritoneal mesothelioma, it is not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers turn out to be wedged in the abdomen's peritoneum lining. It is likely that asbestos fibers, after being cracked into lesser pieces in the lungs, are carried from the lungs into the blood stream, and embed from the blood stream in the abdomen lining. A more probable basis is that asbestos fibers were consumeed with food or drink. Largely asbestos mining or processing facilities had persistent clouds of asbestos fibers. These fibers may perhaps have settled on the food of the workers. Also, it is well established that several of the workers' clothing became infiltrated with asbestos dust. This dust could have polluted the kitchens of the employees as they arrived home with the polluted clothing. Once lodged in the peritoneum, the chronic inflammation process leading to cancerous growths is similar to that occurring in pleural Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma of the Testicles A infrequent form of Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the male testicles. The covering layer of the scrotum is essentially an outpouching of the peritoneum. It is accepted wisdom that the asbestos fibers migrate from the stomach area to become lodged in the portion of the peritoneum surrounding the scrotum.
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Cancer Trial Lawsuit - Mesothelioma Law
The following is a piece on a person who won a recent case against a shipbuilding company for mesothelioma. The person victorious in the lawsuit won over 4 million dollars.
Shipyard Worker Wins Mesothelioma Cancer Trial
Following a jury trial that lasted two and a half weeks, a Norfolk, Virginia man won a $4.39 million verdict on Sept. 5. John Koonce, 59, worked at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. from 1967 to 1971 with asbestos containing parts such as John Crane gaskets and packing materials. In 2006, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, and he later had a lung removed.
Compensatory Damages and Medical Expenses
After a day of deliberation, the jury awarded Koonce both compensatory damages ($4 million) and medical expenses ($390,000) from John Crane Inc., an Illinois-based company. Koonce’s asbestos attorney Bobby Hatten of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein criticized Crane’s no-settlement policy, “Settlements are what reasonable companies do to resolve litigation…when that doesn’t happen, they get to face the jury.”
Hatten also noted that his firm spent two years on the case, with five lawyers assigned to the plaintiff’s issues. His firm will keep one-third of the award, or $1.46 million.
Defendant’s Appeal Is Possible
The defendant John Crane Inc. has the option to appeal the verdict; it has done so in similar cases in the past. Crane could also offer to not appeal in return for Koonce accepting a reduced award amount. A second party that Koonce named, Garlock Sealing Technologies, settled out of court.
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Shipyard Worker Wins Mesothelioma Cancer Trial
Following a jury trial that lasted two and a half weeks, a Norfolk, Virginia man won a $4.39 million verdict on Sept. 5. John Koonce, 59, worked at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. from 1967 to 1971 with asbestos containing parts such as John Crane gaskets and packing materials. In 2006, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, and he later had a lung removed.
Compensatory Damages and Medical Expenses
After a day of deliberation, the jury awarded Koonce both compensatory damages ($4 million) and medical expenses ($390,000) from John Crane Inc., an Illinois-based company. Koonce’s asbestos attorney Bobby Hatten of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein criticized Crane’s no-settlement policy, “Settlements are what reasonable companies do to resolve litigation…when that doesn’t happen, they get to face the jury.”
Hatten also noted that his firm spent two years on the case, with five lawyers assigned to the plaintiff’s issues. His firm will keep one-third of the award, or $1.46 million.
Defendant’s Appeal Is Possible
The defendant John Crane Inc. has the option to appeal the verdict; it has done so in similar cases in the past. Crane could also offer to not appeal in return for Koonce accepting a reduced award amount. A second party that Koonce named, Garlock Sealing Technologies, settled out of court.
eHealthInsurance - FREE Instant Quotes!
www.nicksclassifieds.com - The free ad site with 120 day ad posting expiration. 4 times as long as craig's list!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Class Action Asbestos Check - Settlement Estate
We received another settlement check from my dads class action attorney. It was $500 and something. The attorney fees are pretty crazy. I think the whole settlement on our end was $1250. Not complaining as we really don't have to do anything. We just collect when it's time.
I do not know how many other people our lawyer on these asbestos cases is working for. I'm guessing hundreds - maybe thousands. Really don't know.
I wonder how many of these companies are still around to even collect from as this stuff that went on with my dad and these merchant marines was 50 years ago. Not to mention the economy and the business bankruptcies.
I'm not sure how many other cases are pending or possible or how many years these settlement checks will continue. They aren't big medical death payout settlements usually. I think the largest estate payout we got was $7000 and that was several years ago.
Sell A Life Policy - Collect cash for insurance
I do not know how many other people our lawyer on these asbestos cases is working for. I'm guessing hundreds - maybe thousands. Really don't know.
I wonder how many of these companies are still around to even collect from as this stuff that went on with my dad and these merchant marines was 50 years ago. Not to mention the economy and the business bankruptcies.
I'm not sure how many other cases are pending or possible or how many years these settlement checks will continue. They aren't big medical death payout settlements usually. I think the largest estate payout we got was $7000 and that was several years ago.
Sell A Life Policy - Collect cash for insurance
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Vioxx Risks
Increasing use of rofecoxib (Vioxx) and celecoxib (Celebrex), both selective inhibitors of COX-2, for treatment of arthritis has been accompanied by concerns that
they may increase the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events.
Most older nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
decrease endothelial production of both thromboxane, which has a prothrombotic effect on platelets, and prostacyclin, which has an antithrombotic effect. The usual net effect is some inhibition of platelet function and prolongation of bleeding time. Platelet inhibition is reversible when the drug is cleared, except with aspirin, which has an antiplatelet effect for the life of the platelet, an average of about 7 days. Selective COX-2 inhibitors decrease production of prostacyclin, but not thromboxane. They could, therefore, have a prothrombotic effect (GA
FitzGerald and C Patrono, N Engl J Med 2001; 345:433).
A recent safety study raised concerns that selective COX-2 inhibitors
may increase the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events. The Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) study randomized 8076 older rheumatoid arthritis patients (average age 58 years) to receive either 50 mg of rofecoxib daily or 500 mg of naproxen twice daily, with a median followup of 9 months (C Bombardier et al, N Engl J Med 2000; 343:1520). This dosage of rofecoxib is 2-4 times the dosage recommended for osteoarthritis. Patients with recent cardiovascular events and those taking aspirin were excluded.
Serious thrombotic cardiovascular events occurred in 45 of 4047 patients (1.11%) taking rofecoxib and in 19 of 4029 (0.47%) taking naproxen. A similar safety study of celecoxib, the Celecoxib Long-term Arthritis Safety Study (CLASS), did not exclude patients taking low-dose aspirin, and no statistically significant increase in cardiovascular events was detected with use of celecoxib 400 mg b.i.d. (4 times the dosage for osteoarthritis) compared to diclofenac (Voltaren) or ibuprofen (Motrin, and others). In general, patients taking celecoxib had about half the incidence of serious gastrointestinal events (perforation, obstruction, bleeding) as those taking diclofenac
or ibuprofen (11 of 1441 vs. 20 of 1384), but those taking aspirin as well had about the same
incidence with celecoxib (6 of 298) as with diclofenac or ibuprofen (6 of 283) (FE Silverstein et
al, JAMA 2000; 284:1247).
One recent review (D Mukherjee et al, JAMA 2001; 286:954) compared annualized myocardial
infarction (MI) rates in patients treated with COX-2 inhibitors in 4 studies (including
CLASS and VIGOR) to historical healthy controls not taking low-dose aspirin and concluded
that both celecoxib and rofecoxib increased risks for MI. Rheumatoid arthritis, which was
EDITOR: Mark Abramowicz, M.D. DEPUTY EDITOR: Gianna Zuccotti, M.D., M.P.H., Weill Medical College of Cornell University
CONSULTING EDITOR: Martin A. Rizack, M.D., Ph.D., Rockefeller University ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Donna Goodstein, Amy Faucard ASSISTANT EDITOR: Susie Wong
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Philip D. Hansten, Pharm. D., University of Washington; Neal H. Steigbigel, M.D., New York University School of Medicine
ADVISORY BOARD: William T. Beaver, M.D., Georgetown University School of Medicine; Jules Hirsch, M.D., Rockefeller University; James D. Kenney, M.D., Yale University
School of Medicine; Gerhard Levy, Pharm.D., State University of N.Y. at Buffalo; Gerald L. Mandell, M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine; Hans Meinertz, M.D.,
University Hospital, Copenhagen; Dan M. Roden, M.D., Vanderbilt School of Medicine; F. Estelle R. Simons, M.D., University of Manitoba
EDITORIAL FELLOWS: Elizabeth Stephens, M.D., Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine; Arthur M.F. Yee, M.D., Ph.D., Cornell University Medical Center
EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Marianne Aschenbrenner PUBLISHER: Doris Peter, Ph.D.
Founded 1959 by Arthur Kallet and Harold Aaron, M.D. Copyright 2002. (ISSN 1523-2859)
FORWARDING OR COPYING IS A VIOLATION OF U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 99
common among the patients in the CLASS and VIGOR studies, but not among the historical
controls, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (S Wållberg-
Jonsson et al, J Rheumatol 1997; 24:445). A second recent review of 23 studies found no evidence
of an excess of cardiovascular events with rofecoxib compared to various NSAIDs or
placebo (MA Konstam et al, Circulation, November 6, 2001; 104:2280).
CONCLUSION — In one study, high doses of rofecoxib taken for months were associated
with a 1.11% incidence of thrombotic cardiovascular events compared to 0.47% with naproxen.
Taking aspirin with a selective COX-2 inhibitor could protect against any possible
prothrombotic effect, but would probably also diminish the apparent advantage in gastrointestinal
safety with these drugs. Until more prospective studies with and without low-dose aspirin
are available, it would be premature to conclude that rofecoxib or celecoxib increase the
risk of thrombotic cardiovascular disease.
THE MEDICAL LETTER (ISSN 1523-2859) is published and printed in the USA bi-weekly by The Medical Letter, Inc., a non-profit corporation. Second-class postage
paid at New Rochelle, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE MEDICAL LETTER at 1000 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY
10801-7537. Subscription fees: 1 year, $55.00; 2 years, $94.00; 3 years, $132.00 ($27.50—U.S. Funds—per year for individual subscriptions to students, interns,
residents, and fellows in the USA and Canada; special fees for bulk orders). Major credit cards accepted. Copyright and Disclaimer: Subscriptions are accepted with
the understanding that no part of the material may be reproduced or transmitted by any process in whole or in part without prior permission in writing. The editors
and publisher do not warrant that all the material in this publication is accurate and complete in every respect. The editors and publisher shall not be held responsiblefor any damage resulting from any error, inaccuracy or omission.
Phone: 1-800-211-2769 Fax: 1-914-632-1733 WEB SITE: http://www.medletter.com
100 The Medical Letter • Vol. 43 (Issue W1118A) November 12, 2001
Vioxx Lawsuit
they may increase the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events.
Most older nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
decrease endothelial production of both thromboxane, which has a prothrombotic effect on platelets, and prostacyclin, which has an antithrombotic effect. The usual net effect is some inhibition of platelet function and prolongation of bleeding time. Platelet inhibition is reversible when the drug is cleared, except with aspirin, which has an antiplatelet effect for the life of the platelet, an average of about 7 days. Selective COX-2 inhibitors decrease production of prostacyclin, but not thromboxane. They could, therefore, have a prothrombotic effect (GA
FitzGerald and C Patrono, N Engl J Med 2001; 345:433).
A recent safety study raised concerns that selective COX-2 inhibitors
may increase the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events. The Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) study randomized 8076 older rheumatoid arthritis patients (average age 58 years) to receive either 50 mg of rofecoxib daily or 500 mg of naproxen twice daily, with a median followup of 9 months (C Bombardier et al, N Engl J Med 2000; 343:1520). This dosage of rofecoxib is 2-4 times the dosage recommended for osteoarthritis. Patients with recent cardiovascular events and those taking aspirin were excluded.
Serious thrombotic cardiovascular events occurred in 45 of 4047 patients (1.11%) taking rofecoxib and in 19 of 4029 (0.47%) taking naproxen. A similar safety study of celecoxib, the Celecoxib Long-term Arthritis Safety Study (CLASS), did not exclude patients taking low-dose aspirin, and no statistically significant increase in cardiovascular events was detected with use of celecoxib 400 mg b.i.d. (4 times the dosage for osteoarthritis) compared to diclofenac (Voltaren) or ibuprofen (Motrin, and others). In general, patients taking celecoxib had about half the incidence of serious gastrointestinal events (perforation, obstruction, bleeding) as those taking diclofenac
or ibuprofen (11 of 1441 vs. 20 of 1384), but those taking aspirin as well had about the same
incidence with celecoxib (6 of 298) as with diclofenac or ibuprofen (6 of 283) (FE Silverstein et
al, JAMA 2000; 284:1247).
One recent review (D Mukherjee et al, JAMA 2001; 286:954) compared annualized myocardial
infarction (MI) rates in patients treated with COX-2 inhibitors in 4 studies (including
CLASS and VIGOR) to historical healthy controls not taking low-dose aspirin and concluded
that both celecoxib and rofecoxib increased risks for MI. Rheumatoid arthritis, which was
EDITOR: Mark Abramowicz, M.D. DEPUTY EDITOR: Gianna Zuccotti, M.D., M.P.H., Weill Medical College of Cornell University
CONSULTING EDITOR: Martin A. Rizack, M.D., Ph.D., Rockefeller University ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Donna Goodstein, Amy Faucard ASSISTANT EDITOR: Susie Wong
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Philip D. Hansten, Pharm. D., University of Washington; Neal H. Steigbigel, M.D., New York University School of Medicine
ADVISORY BOARD: William T. Beaver, M.D., Georgetown University School of Medicine; Jules Hirsch, M.D., Rockefeller University; James D. Kenney, M.D., Yale University
School of Medicine; Gerhard Levy, Pharm.D., State University of N.Y. at Buffalo; Gerald L. Mandell, M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine; Hans Meinertz, M.D.,
University Hospital, Copenhagen; Dan M. Roden, M.D., Vanderbilt School of Medicine; F. Estelle R. Simons, M.D., University of Manitoba
EDITORIAL FELLOWS: Elizabeth Stephens, M.D., Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine; Arthur M.F. Yee, M.D., Ph.D., Cornell University Medical Center
EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Marianne Aschenbrenner PUBLISHER: Doris Peter, Ph.D.
Founded 1959 by Arthur Kallet and Harold Aaron, M.D. Copyright 2002. (ISSN 1523-2859)
FORWARDING OR COPYING IS A VIOLATION OF U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 99
common among the patients in the CLASS and VIGOR studies, but not among the historical
controls, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (S Wållberg-
Jonsson et al, J Rheumatol 1997; 24:445). A second recent review of 23 studies found no evidence
of an excess of cardiovascular events with rofecoxib compared to various NSAIDs or
placebo (MA Konstam et al, Circulation, November 6, 2001; 104:2280).
CONCLUSION — In one study, high doses of rofecoxib taken for months were associated
with a 1.11% incidence of thrombotic cardiovascular events compared to 0.47% with naproxen.
Taking aspirin with a selective COX-2 inhibitor could protect against any possible
prothrombotic effect, but would probably also diminish the apparent advantage in gastrointestinal
safety with these drugs. Until more prospective studies with and without low-dose aspirin
are available, it would be premature to conclude that rofecoxib or celecoxib increase the
risk of thrombotic cardiovascular disease.
THE MEDICAL LETTER (ISSN 1523-2859) is published and printed in the USA bi-weekly by The Medical Letter, Inc., a non-profit corporation. Second-class postage
paid at New Rochelle, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE MEDICAL LETTER at 1000 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY
10801-7537. Subscription fees: 1 year, $55.00; 2 years, $94.00; 3 years, $132.00 ($27.50—U.S. Funds—per year for individual subscriptions to students, interns,
residents, and fellows in the USA and Canada; special fees for bulk orders). Major credit cards accepted. Copyright and Disclaimer: Subscriptions are accepted with
the understanding that no part of the material may be reproduced or transmitted by any process in whole or in part without prior permission in writing. The editors
and publisher do not warrant that all the material in this publication is accurate and complete in every respect. The editors and publisher shall not be held responsiblefor any damage resulting from any error, inaccuracy or omission.
Phone: 1-800-211-2769 Fax: 1-914-632-1733 WEB SITE: http://www.medletter.com
100 The Medical Letter • Vol. 43 (Issue W1118A) November 12, 2001
Vioxx Lawsuit
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Marines Asbestos Exposure Poisoning - Merchant Marine Asbestos Law Firm
Class action lawsuits are ongoing regarding merchant marines and the exposure to asbestos causing long term mesothelioma and other sickness.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is linked to Asbestos exposure. The illness itself may not show up until 30 or 40 years after exposure to Asbestos. Mesothelioma is a lung condition (cancer) that requires immediate medical assistance and more information should be gathered by the patient. Over the years, it was noticed these conditions could have been evident on merchant marine ships and maritime vessels where asbestos was used.
If the sickness can be traced to a specific exposure source such as merchant marine and maritime, an Attorney or Mesothelioma Lawyer can assist with consultation and possible litigation or Lawsuit options. The links contain useful mesothelioma information for the sufferers of malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestos Lawsuit and Litigation
Your consultation will be free. You should also research past judgements. You should also see if other employees have been affected. Class action lawsuits are going on throughout the country and a law firm may have already begun proceedings against your company.
Search for a lawyer, asbestos attorney, law firm and exposure or see the links on the left. These are legal specialists in lawsuits for asbestos affects and mesothelioma.
If you feel you have been exposed to Asbestos that has led to an illness (Mesothelioma), you may be entitled to an Asbestos claim. There are many lawsuits currently underway and claims being settled due to Asbestos exposure.
Many of these claims come from employees who were exposed to extended exposure to Asebestos. Experienced attorneys are available to pursue lawsuits or settle an Asbestos claim on behalf of you or for a group. Over the past few years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid out to victims. Many of these claims and lawsuit settlements took years to pay out, so any action should be taken as soon as possible.
People who are concerned about Asbestos Poisoning are usually workers who have been exposed to Asbestos over a long period of time. These people may have worked in areas of exposure including Insulation, vents, walls or other materials.
The effects of asbestos related poisoning may only show itself after many years.
Need a Family Lawyer?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is linked to Asbestos exposure. The illness itself may not show up until 30 or 40 years after exposure to Asbestos. Mesothelioma is a lung condition (cancer) that requires immediate medical assistance and more information should be gathered by the patient. Over the years, it was noticed these conditions could have been evident on merchant marine ships and maritime vessels where asbestos was used.
If the sickness can be traced to a specific exposure source such as merchant marine and maritime, an Attorney or Mesothelioma Lawyer can assist with consultation and possible litigation or Lawsuit options. The links contain useful mesothelioma information for the sufferers of malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestos Lawsuit and Litigation
Your consultation will be free. You should also research past judgements. You should also see if other employees have been affected. Class action lawsuits are going on throughout the country and a law firm may have already begun proceedings against your company.
Search for a lawyer, asbestos attorney, law firm and exposure or see the links on the left. These are legal specialists in lawsuits for asbestos affects and mesothelioma.
If you feel you have been exposed to Asbestos that has led to an illness (Mesothelioma), you may be entitled to an Asbestos claim. There are many lawsuits currently underway and claims being settled due to Asbestos exposure.
Many of these claims come from employees who were exposed to extended exposure to Asebestos. Experienced attorneys are available to pursue lawsuits or settle an Asbestos claim on behalf of you or for a group. Over the past few years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid out to victims. Many of these claims and lawsuit settlements took years to pay out, so any action should be taken as soon as possible.
People who are concerned about Asbestos Poisoning are usually workers who have been exposed to Asbestos over a long period of time. These people may have worked in areas of exposure including Insulation, vents, walls or other materials.
The effects of asbestos related poisoning may only show itself after many years.
Need a Family Lawyer?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Asbestos Hazard - A Brief History Of Asbestos
Featured article on mesothelioma cancer causing hazards and what patients may have a right to in class action situations.
Asbestos Exposure Sickness
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral of metamorpic hydrous magnesium silicate. The term "metamorphic" is used to describe a process of extreme heat and pressure which creates specific secondary patterns of minerals with new chemical and/or physical properties.
As the primary rock is heated and recooled, silicate crystals align in long rows of mineral fibers, which easily separate into tiny shards thinner than a human hair. Asbestos fibers are not a health risk as long as they are undisturbed. However, when asbestos is undergoes natural weathering, or is mined and processed, the microscopic particles waft into the air and cause disease if they are inhaled.
Asbestosis occurs when an inhaled asbestos particle irritates the body's natural defence mechanisms, causing inflammation and scarring which eventually restricts lung function. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the membranes surrounding the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, stomach, lung and lymphoid tissue.
Asbestos exposure can also cause non-fatal illnesses such as asbestos warts, caused when asbestos fibers are lodged in the skin, causing lumps of scar tissue to form around the irritant in the same manner as they do in the lungs to cause asbestosis; pleural plaques, discrete, sometimes calcified fibrous lesions which can be seen on X-rays but are too small to cause breathing impairment; and diffuse pleural thickening, which can cause breathing impairment if it is extensive.
Due to its fire resistant properties, asbestos has been used historically for household and industrial purposes. It has been found woven into burial cloths in ancient Egypt, and Charlemagne reportedly had a tablecloth made of asbestos which he would throw into a fire to clean.
In World War II asbestos was considered so important by the War Department that it was considered a strategic material, and many American workers were exposed in the World War II boom in shipbuilding. After the war, it was widely used in the construction industry.
In modern Western society, it was used for such diverse purposes as lamp wicks, brake shoes, oven insulation, electrical hotplate wiring and home insulation, roofing and flooring. For instance, some kinds of vermiculite used in home insulation into the 1970s contained asbestos. The EPA banned this product in 1977.
When a home owner discovers asbestos in an old home, it should not be a cause for immediate panic. If the asbestos looks intact and is not pulverised, it is best to leave it alone. However, because of legal liability, schools and businesses containing asbestos usually must undergo a costly removal process, hazardous in itself because disturbing the stable asbestos product causes fibers to fill the air. Special equipment must be used to insure that the removal process does not cause health problems where non existed before.
Most industrialised nations have reduced or banned the use of asbestos for at least 30 years and now use fiberglass or woven ceramic fiber as a substitute, but since asbestos-caused disease has a latency period of up to 50 years, patients are still presenting with these illness today. Every year in America, approximately 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed, and 550 deaths occurs due to asbestosis. According to the March 1991 Report of the Judicial Conference Ad Hoc Committee on Asbestos Litigation, asbestos exposure has caused the deaths of approximately 200,000 to 265,000 Americans.
Asbestos use peaked in the United States in 1973, when 1 million tons of the material were used. The EPA attempted to institute a complete legal ban on the use of asbestos products in 1989; however, this ban was largely eviscerated by the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991, and some restricted use of asbestos, albeit in fewer products than before, resumed. Therefore, even today some workers are being exposed to this toxic material.
Asbestos is a serious continuing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency, and their website has detailed information on asbestos and its removal.
Concerns about the health risks of asbestos exposure date back to 1898, when the Chief Inspector of Factories of the United Kingdom reported to Parliament in his Annual Report about the "evil effects of asbestos dust". He noted that the "sharp, glass like nature of the particles" when allowed to remain suspended in the air, "have been found to be injurious, as might have been expected". In 1906 a British Parliamentary Commission confirmed the first cases of asbestos-related deaths in British factories and called for improved ventilation and other safety measures. In 1918 an American insurance company produced a study showing premature deaths in the asbestos industry in the United States and in 1926 the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents Board processed the first successful claim by a sick asbestos worker.
Today, lawsuits claiming compensation for asbestos-related illnesses are a growth industry in the legal profession. An internet search of "mesothelioma lawyer" yields 1,910,000 results. The original manufacturers of asbestos products have long since been driven into Chapter 11 bankruptcy; plaintiffs have now turned to suing corporations with peripheral connections to asbestos products. More than 70 American corporations have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in due to asbestos liability claims.
Since the 1970's, approximately 6% of all lawsuits filed in American courts have been asbestos-related. The lawsuits now facing the courts have been described as "an elephantine mass" by the US Supreme Court, and are expected to cost between 200 to 275 billion dollars to settle. Asbestos liability is one of the largest issues facing the global insurance industry today.
Most epidemiological studies expected the number of lawsuits to peak in the 1990s, but this has not occurred, either because of the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases, or because legal action is becoming more popular among asbestos-exposed members of the public due to high-profile legal cases and widespread advertising by attorneys who specialize in such cases.
Many complaints have been made by representatives of industries facing lawsuits and the insurance companies who will be expected to pay them that the asbestos-lawsuit industry is rife with fraud, with less that half of all payouts reaching the plaintiffs. Aggressive, ambulance-chasing lawyers are said to exaggerate medical disability and coach clients on their testimony.
The group of plaintiffs includes not only ill people, but also those who have merely have a history of asbestos exposure and want compensation for potential future health risks. According to the American Academy of Acturaries Mass Tort Work Group, more than 100 million Americans have been exposed to asbestos in their workplace during the past century.
Christian is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Work Accident Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.
Mesothelioma Survival
Asbestos Exposure Sickness
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral of metamorpic hydrous magnesium silicate. The term "metamorphic" is used to describe a process of extreme heat and pressure which creates specific secondary patterns of minerals with new chemical and/or physical properties.
As the primary rock is heated and recooled, silicate crystals align in long rows of mineral fibers, which easily separate into tiny shards thinner than a human hair. Asbestos fibers are not a health risk as long as they are undisturbed. However, when asbestos is undergoes natural weathering, or is mined and processed, the microscopic particles waft into the air and cause disease if they are inhaled.
Asbestosis occurs when an inhaled asbestos particle irritates the body's natural defence mechanisms, causing inflammation and scarring which eventually restricts lung function. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the membranes surrounding the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, stomach, lung and lymphoid tissue.
Asbestos exposure can also cause non-fatal illnesses such as asbestos warts, caused when asbestos fibers are lodged in the skin, causing lumps of scar tissue to form around the irritant in the same manner as they do in the lungs to cause asbestosis; pleural plaques, discrete, sometimes calcified fibrous lesions which can be seen on X-rays but are too small to cause breathing impairment; and diffuse pleural thickening, which can cause breathing impairment if it is extensive.
Due to its fire resistant properties, asbestos has been used historically for household and industrial purposes. It has been found woven into burial cloths in ancient Egypt, and Charlemagne reportedly had a tablecloth made of asbestos which he would throw into a fire to clean.
In World War II asbestos was considered so important by the War Department that it was considered a strategic material, and many American workers were exposed in the World War II boom in shipbuilding. After the war, it was widely used in the construction industry.
In modern Western society, it was used for such diverse purposes as lamp wicks, brake shoes, oven insulation, electrical hotplate wiring and home insulation, roofing and flooring. For instance, some kinds of vermiculite used in home insulation into the 1970s contained asbestos. The EPA banned this product in 1977.
When a home owner discovers asbestos in an old home, it should not be a cause for immediate panic. If the asbestos looks intact and is not pulverised, it is best to leave it alone. However, because of legal liability, schools and businesses containing asbestos usually must undergo a costly removal process, hazardous in itself because disturbing the stable asbestos product causes fibers to fill the air. Special equipment must be used to insure that the removal process does not cause health problems where non existed before.
Most industrialised nations have reduced or banned the use of asbestos for at least 30 years and now use fiberglass or woven ceramic fiber as a substitute, but since asbestos-caused disease has a latency period of up to 50 years, patients are still presenting with these illness today. Every year in America, approximately 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed, and 550 deaths occurs due to asbestosis. According to the March 1991 Report of the Judicial Conference Ad Hoc Committee on Asbestos Litigation, asbestos exposure has caused the deaths of approximately 200,000 to 265,000 Americans.
Asbestos use peaked in the United States in 1973, when 1 million tons of the material were used. The EPA attempted to institute a complete legal ban on the use of asbestos products in 1989; however, this ban was largely eviscerated by the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991, and some restricted use of asbestos, albeit in fewer products than before, resumed. Therefore, even today some workers are being exposed to this toxic material.
Asbestos is a serious continuing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency, and their website has detailed information on asbestos and its removal.
Concerns about the health risks of asbestos exposure date back to 1898, when the Chief Inspector of Factories of the United Kingdom reported to Parliament in his Annual Report about the "evil effects of asbestos dust". He noted that the "sharp, glass like nature of the particles" when allowed to remain suspended in the air, "have been found to be injurious, as might have been expected". In 1906 a British Parliamentary Commission confirmed the first cases of asbestos-related deaths in British factories and called for improved ventilation and other safety measures. In 1918 an American insurance company produced a study showing premature deaths in the asbestos industry in the United States and in 1926 the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents Board processed the first successful claim by a sick asbestos worker.
Today, lawsuits claiming compensation for asbestos-related illnesses are a growth industry in the legal profession. An internet search of "mesothelioma lawyer" yields 1,910,000 results. The original manufacturers of asbestos products have long since been driven into Chapter 11 bankruptcy; plaintiffs have now turned to suing corporations with peripheral connections to asbestos products. More than 70 American corporations have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in due to asbestos liability claims.
Since the 1970's, approximately 6% of all lawsuits filed in American courts have been asbestos-related. The lawsuits now facing the courts have been described as "an elephantine mass" by the US Supreme Court, and are expected to cost between 200 to 275 billion dollars to settle. Asbestos liability is one of the largest issues facing the global insurance industry today.
Most epidemiological studies expected the number of lawsuits to peak in the 1990s, but this has not occurred, either because of the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases, or because legal action is becoming more popular among asbestos-exposed members of the public due to high-profile legal cases and widespread advertising by attorneys who specialize in such cases.
Many complaints have been made by representatives of industries facing lawsuits and the insurance companies who will be expected to pay them that the asbestos-lawsuit industry is rife with fraud, with less that half of all payouts reaching the plaintiffs. Aggressive, ambulance-chasing lawyers are said to exaggerate medical disability and coach clients on their testimony.
The group of plaintiffs includes not only ill people, but also those who have merely have a history of asbestos exposure and want compensation for potential future health risks. According to the American Academy of Acturaries Mass Tort Work Group, more than 100 million Americans have been exposed to asbestos in their workplace during the past century.
Christian is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Work Accident Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.
Mesothelioma Survival
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