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American Physician and Nurse Scientist Named to International Mesothelioma Group
Two of America’s most highly respected mesothelioma professionals have been named to new positions at the prestigious International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig). Joseph Friedberg, MD, FACS, and Melissa Culligan, RN, BSN, MSc, PhD candidate will bring the expertise that they deploy at Temple Health, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Fox
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Mesothelioma Victim Successfully Reverses Former Employer’s Dismissal of Her Claim
A woman diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma has successfully reversed a court decision regarding her claim against her former employer. Though a court had granted the company’s request to dismiss her claim, she was able to prove that there were significant questions of fact to be determined, as well as to raise the question of whether
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Connecticut Appellate Court Reopens Dismissed Mesothelioma Case
Harold Dusto died of malignant pleural mesothelioma after thirty years of asbestos exposure in a filthy factory. When his family filed a personal injury lawsuit accusing the company of ignoring employee health, a judge dismissed it based on a statute that limited workplace injury claims to the state’s worker compensation system. This week an appellate
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Court Denies Talc Company’s Attempt to Evade Mesothelioma Responsibility
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied a request from a talc company seeking dismissal of a mesothelioma lawsuit filed against them. Though the company argued that the victim’s family had failed to submit adequate proof of their role in his death, the judge disagreed, pointing to specific testimony. The judge also refused to
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Study Points to Calcium as Cause for Mesothelioma ‘Chemobrain’
Mesothelioma is a particularly challenging form of cancer that has proven extremely resistant to traditional treatment protocols. Most patients are offered multimodality treatments that include chemotherapy, and that regimen can lead to a troubling side effect referred to as ‘chemobrain.’ This week researchers have published a study that suggests that it may be caused by
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Mesothelioma Death of Celebrity’s Father Shines Light on Johnson & Johnson Talc Lawsuit
Two months before the 25-year-old star of HBO’s hit drama Euphoria died from an accidental overdose, his beloved 65-year-old father succumbed to malignant pleural mesothelioma. Now Angus Cloud’s mother and sisters have joined the ranks of those seeking compensation from Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactured and sold the baby powder her husband Joseph had used
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Chanel and Revlon Denied Dismissal from Mesothelioma Victim’s Lawsuit
After Victoria Kaye died of malignant mesothelioma, her survivors filed suit against several of the companies they blamed for her illness. Most of the companies named are highly recognizable manufacturers of cosmetic talc products. Recently two of those companies attempted to have the claims against them dismissed, but in both cases, the motion for summary
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Cancer Vaccine Biotech Reports Strong Clinical Response in Mesothelioma Tests
Days after reporting that its mesothelioma cancer vaccine has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Norwegian biotech Ultimovacs reported strong clinical responses to their protocol’s use.
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Judge Denies Auto Parts Manufacturer’s Bid for Dismissal from Lung Cancer Claim
Winfield P. Frederick is a former auto and cruise ship engine mechanic who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. He filed a personal injury claim against multiple defendants whose asbestos-contaminated parts he blamed for his illness, including Western Auto Supply Company. Though the company asked for the case against them to be dismissed, the
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Asbestos Glove Manufacturer Fails in Repeated Attempt to Evade Mesothelioma Trial
A cruise ship worker’s survivors believe it was the asbestos-contaminated gloves he wore that eventually caused his malignant mesothelioma, and in their quest for justice they included the gloves’ manufacturer in the personal injury claim they filed in New York. Though the company tried to argue that they’d never done business in the state, the
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Goodyear’s Argument Against Lung Cancer Liability Fails
Robert O. Waldon died of lung cancer after years of having been exposed to asbestos in Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company gaskets. His survivors filed a personal injury lawsuit against the company, accusing them of negligence in having exposed him to the deadly material, without warning. Though the company attempted to have the case against
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Boiler Company Attempts to Evade Punitive Damages in Two Mesothelioma Cases
A New York judge recently denied a boiler company the ability to evade justice in claims filed by two different mesothelioma victims. Both men blamed Burnham LLC for having recklessly exposed them to asbestos, and both sought punitive damages in their claims. Though the company attempted to have the punitive damages portion of the suits
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Caulk Manufacturer Denied Dismissal of Mesothelioma Claims from Three Victims
Almost all of the people diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos on the job. Many of them worked in the building trades, where products contaminated with the carcinogenic material were used on a daily basis. Caulk is a common source of this exposure, and many victims name caulk manufacturers in their personal injury lawsuits.
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Mesothelioma Claims Linked to Asbestos in Cement Pipes Stymied by Texas Two-Step
There has been significant attention paid to Johnson & Johnson’s use of bankruptcy laws to evade mesothelioma claims, but the consumer giant is not the only company to use a controversial strategy known as the “Texas two-step” to avoid liability. Several others — including Saint-Gobain, Georgia-Pacific, and Trane Technologies – are following the same path,
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Ultimovacs Mesothelioma Vaccine Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation
A Norway-based pharmaceutical company’s cancer-fighting vaccine has been granted orphan drug designation for a study of its use in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The vaccine, UV1, was created by Ultimovacs. Its goal is to generate an immune response that targets an enzyme called telomerase that causes cancerous cells to proliferate.
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Mesothelioma Patients Largely Unaffected by Chemotherapy Drug Shortages
A follow-up survey conducted by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has revealed that though shortages of chemotherapy drugs are continuing, they are having little to no impact on mesothelioma patients and others diagnosed with other cancers. Experts attribute this to the adoption of strict protocols and strategies regarding the use of available resources. Chemotherapy Drug Shortages
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New Mesothelioma Research Focuses on Specific Cells
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer held its 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer last week, and much of the information presented focused on discoveries in malignant mesothelioma. One clinical trial’s results were presented focused on the importance of dendritic cells and how they can be leveraged to stimulate immune responses.
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Asbestos Cloth and Boiler Companies Must Face Jury in Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Felton Robichaux died of malignant mesothelioma just six months after being diagnosed with the rare, asbestos-related disease. In seeking justice and compensation for his suffering and loss, his survivors have filed a personal injury lawsuit naming several companies as defendants. Many of those companies are asking to have the case against them dismissed, but their
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Missouri Appeals Court Upholds $20 Million Mesothelioma Verdict
In March of 2022, a St. Louis jury awarded Ford Motor Company to pay $20 million in damages to an auto mechanic dying of malignant mesothelioma and his wife. Despite the definitive decision from the jury, Ford appealed the verdict. This week the Missouri Court of Appeals of the Eastern District upheld the verdict, despite
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HVAC Company’s Attempt to Be Dismissed from Mesothelioma Claim Fails in New York Court
It’s been more than four years since Michelle Togher and Peter Vincent filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against the many companies they blamed for their father’s illness. Charles Vincent had been exposed to multiple asbestos-contaminated products through the course of his life, and his family’s claim sought compensation from those responsible. Though one of the named
