It has been well documented – and proven in courtroom after courtroom – that breathing in asbestos fibers leads to the development of asbestosis. Asbestosis is long-term inflammation and scarring of the lungs that is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. Prolonged exposure to these fibers can cause lung tissue scarring, shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Complications […]
How Often Is Asbestosis Misdiagnosed as Chronic Bronchitis?
Railroad Workers, Asbestos Exposure, and Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a very rare – but aggressive and incurable – type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, and due to the railroad industry’s major use of asbestos insulation in various equipment and engines, it has stricken railroad workers hard for many decades. The mesothelium acts as a protective membrane that covers the lungs, abdomen, and heart. The most […]
What Is the Federal Employers’ Act (FELA)?
The Federal Employers’ Act (FELA) was enacted by Congress in 1908 to protect and compensate railroad workers injured on the job if the railroad is at least partially negligent in causing the injuries. FELA is not a workers’ compensation act. It is fault-based and requires a railroad worker to prove their injury was caused either completely or partially by the […]
New Study Suggests Safer Alternative Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
The results of a study examining the safety and efficacy of radiation treatments for patients who have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer in the pleural lining of the lungs) was recently published in the medical journal, Practical Radiation Oncology. The team of researchers concluded that proton therapy for pleural mesothelioma may be a safer alternative from standard radiotherapy […]
What Is Asbestos Induced Mesothelioma Cancer And How Is It Diagnosed?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that develops in the mesothelium – a layer of tissue that covers the internal organs. In a vast majority of cases, mesothelioma tends to affect the lungs. It can, in some cases, also affect the abdominal cavity, heart, or the testicles. Every year, over 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with […]
Overview of the Legal Elements That Must Be Met for an Asbestosis Claim Under the FELA
We recently received a favorable verdict in a case we handled for the estate of a Norfolk Southern carman who passed away from asbestosis and heart disease. After the verdict was returned several of his coworkers were concerned they may suffer from the disease and contacted our office with some questions regarding their risk of developing asbestosis. There is some […]
Norfolk Jury Returns $5 Million Verdict in Favor of Client Who Passed Away from Asbestos-Related Lung Disease
Our client, a carman, worked at Norfolk Southern’s Lambert’s Point car repair shop for more than a decade. He serviced and changed out asbestos-containing brake shoes at the shop year in and year out breathing in toxic asbestos fibers. After nearly ten years, Norfolk Southern hired abatement contractors to remove asbestos from the car shop. Our client subsequently became very […]
Do Railroad Office Workers Have FELA Rights?
Yes, to give the briefest and clearest answer. Any employee of a railroad corporation that engages in interstate commerce has coverage for work-related injuries and occupational illnesses under the law formally known as the Federal Employers Liability Act. LEARN MORE Retired Railroad Workers Can File FELA Claims Are There Damage Limits Under FELA? FELA was enacted in 1908 to protect […]
Mesothelioma Rate in Maine Is Highest in US
Cancer including mesothelioma that is linked to asbestos exposure has been found to kill Maine residents at the fastest rate in the country, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A March 2017 CDC report on mesothelioma and asbestos has brought new focus onto the many dangerous of asbestos exposure. Researchers in that study found that from […]
New Study: Peritoneal Mesothelioma Risk Does Not Decline After Decades
A recent published clinical study in Italy has shown one of the most devastating and deadly factors about malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: The risk for contracting the terminal disease is high even many decades after the asbestos exposure ended. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a horrible form of mesothelioma that infests the membranes that surround the organs in the abdomen. Asbestos exposure is well […]