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A recent news feature from the Huffington Post begins with the premise that most Americans believe the asbestos crisis was largely solved thirty years ago when it stopped being used in residential and commercial construction and in most aspects of production. However, as the author points out, and we are now well aware, the asbestos crisis is far from over.

warning-icon-45-1023139-mThe event that occurred thirty years ago was Congress passing the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). This federal law helped make the general public aware of the hazardous nature of asbestos fibers. Continue reading

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NASA operates a jet propulsion laboratory in California, and, according to a recent news article from the Pasadena Star News, employees at the laboratory may have been exposed to deadly asbestos fibers during an asbestos abatement process.

warning-icon-45-1023139-mThe contractor closed the third floor of the building at the laboratory complex where members of the Cassini mission project are working. The Cassini program involves a rocket and orbiter designed to travel to Saturn and launch a probe to land on the planet’s surface. Continue reading

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According to a recent article from the Buffalo News, the national average for asbestos-related deaths is 4.9 per 100,000 people. While the term asbestos deaths can include those caused by asbestosis, lung cancer, or serious respiratory illness, the vast majority of asbestos-related deaths are caused by malignant pleural mesothelioma.

questionMalignant pleural mesothelioma is rare form of cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to deadly asbestos fibers. The fibers become trapped in a layer of tissue known as mesothelium, where they can develop into the deadly form of cancer after a period of 20 to 50 years; however, it can form in less time in some cases. Once a person is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, they usually only have a year or so to live, and the worst part is, they generally had no idea they were sick prior to learning they have cancer. Continue reading

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Asbestos abatement (removal) must be performed by a certified contractor with employees that are properly trained in asbestos safety and who are provided with proper protective clothing including respirators or ventilators. All asbestos abatement must be done after obtaining permits from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Once proper permits are in hand, the work must be done in such a way that insures workers and those in the surrounding community are not exposed to deadly asbestos fibers.

respiratorThere are a lot of ways to accomplish this. The area is generally tented off or otherwise sealed, and asbestos material itself may also be sealed prior to removal. In some cases, the asbestos removal workers will paint the material with a thick coat of industrial sealant to make sure the fibers cannot escape. This is similar to lead paint removal on bridges and other outdoor structures.   Once the asbestos debris is removed, it must be kept wet at all times to prevent dust from flying into the air, and then it must be secured in approved plastic containers. These containers must be kept sealed and transported to an approved hazardous waste facility. Even though it happens all the time, asbestos dust should never be placed in ordinary construction dumpsters. Continue reading

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According to a recent news report form NPR, the interview subject was doing well in life. He owned a flooring company that was just awarded a good contract. He was on his way to work one morning when he decided to stop at a fast food restaurant to get something to drink when he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He described how he collapsed in pain and said it was like he had been stabbed in the stomach with a large knife. At this point, he was being driven to the emergency room by a coworker.

paperworkWhen he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. He saw his wife crying and asked what happened. She told him when doctors looked in his stomach, they found it was full of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma tumors. His doctor told him he did not have very long left to live. He was 39 years old, and this was the first he learned that was his sick, let alone dying of cancer. Continue reading

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Residents of Westford, Massachusetts are proud of the Roudenbush Community Center building that has brought so much enjoyment to the area after it was converted to a community center in the mid 1970s. It was originally built as a private school, and, at the time, the designers spared no expense. The building was intricately designed and filled with architectural treasures. Even the railings on the staircases feature detailed carvings done entirely by hand.

vintage-hotel-1380443-mWhile the building has been added to the historic registry, it has become a victim of its age, and it is starting to deteriorate to the point where it is causing safety concerns among residents and town officials.   For this reason, town residents are pushing their elected officials to allocate enough money from budget to restore the building to its former glory. However, due to the high cost and amount of work involved, the town officials are not sure what they will be able to do, according to a recent news article from Wicked Local Westford. Continue reading

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While asbestos has not been used in construction in the United States for over two decades, it is well known that many older buildings in the greater Boston area contain large amounts of deadly asbestos fibers. For the most part, these fibers are not a threat to the occupants of the buildings unless the buildings are in a deteriorating state or building owners perform renovations or demolition work.

tiles-280652-mHowever, it is up to the building owners to make sure they are not exposing the occupants or general public to the deadly asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, they know that it generally takes between 20 and 50 years for the asbestos fibers to cause malignant mesothelioma, and the victims often have no idea that they are sick. Continue reading

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Mesothelioma lawsuits are generally filed under a theory of negligence. The claim is that the company knew or had reason to know that their product could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, or respiratory illness, and they failed to warn the millions of workers who dealt with the deadly substance on a routine basis.   Failure to adequately warn of a known danger is a specific claim filed in many lawsuits in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

asbestosdangerThe reason asbestos is so deadly is because, once inhaled, the fibers can become trapped in a layer of tissue known as the mesothelium. Once in the mesothelium, they can metastasize into a deadly form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma. This process usually takes between 20 and 50 years, so many companies were willing to trade present profits for future risk of mesothelioma lawsuits. Continue reading

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According to a recent article in Wicked Local Medford, the long-standing and now closed arcade business building is finally being demolished to make room for new construction.

warning-icon-45-1023139-mThe old arcade building has been empty for quite some time, and there has been talk about tearing it down after the roof collapsed, but there were two major impediments to taking such action. The town officials were worried about contaminating workers and the general community. One of the chemicals discovered during an inspection and present in the building was asbestos. Continue reading

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Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer that forms in a layer of tissue know as the mesothelium, hence the name mesothelioma. While most people associate mesothelioma with lung cancer, it is not technically lung cancer. It is an entirely different form of malignant cancer that often forms in the lungs, abdomen, or chest.

judgeWhile it is medically possible to develop malignant pleural mesothelioma (lungs), malignant pericardial mesothelioma (chest), or malignant peritoneal (abdomen) mesothelioma without ever having been exposed to toxic asbestos fibers, the chance of that happening is extremely remote. In reality, almost all cases of malignant mesothelioma are caused by exposure to deadly asbestos.  During the process of diagnosing a patient with malignant mesothelioma, the asbestos fibers will generally still be visible in the cancerous tissue, so the body has no ability to break them down, which is one of the major reasons they are so dangerous.   Continue reading

Contact Information
Boston Office
1 International Pl Unit 1810
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 777-7777Fax: (617) 722-9999
Taunton Office
60 Court St
Taunton, MA 02780
By Appointment Only
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308 Victory Rd
Quincy, MA 02171
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43 Harvard St
Worcester, MA 01609
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Disclaimer – The settlements above are only a sample of cases represented by our office. Each case is different and the amount of a potential resolution of your case will vary considerably depending on a substantial amount of factors. Some case results were worked in conjunction with partnering law firms.

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