July 28th, 2010

Asbestos Bankruptcy Update

There have been some recent developments in the world of asbestos bankruptcies that justify this brief note. After many many years of contentious litigation, the Congoleum Trust Fund, established in the reorganization of the Congoleum Corporation, has become effective. I was pleased to be one of five members of the Asbestos Creditors Committee counsel group Read the Rest…

July 12th, 2010

Scotsman’s mesothelioma death shows devastating impact of asbestos

The mesothelioma-caused death of a Scotsman has spurred his widow to take up the fight against asbestos, which triggered the rare and deadly cancer that killed her husband.Jim Duff passed away at the age of 62 from asbestos exposure that occurred 30 years prior to his death, when he worked in the civil service at Read the Rest…

June 7th, 2010

Asbestos in Toys and Tools – and Across the Americas via The Pump Handle

During National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week (April 1-7), we’ll be cross-posting a piece every day from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Today’s post has two parts.
Many thanks to The Pump Handle for spreading the word about National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week and highlighting the work of ADAO!

June 7th, 2010

Brazilian Chrysotile Institute: Follow The Money

The criticism “North American Week Against Asbestos, a retrograde step”1 which appeared on May 18, 2010 on a pro-asbestos blog2 backed by the Brazilian Chrysotile Institute (BCI) highlights the ruthless determination which propels the asbestos industry’s agenda in Brazil. Disregarding the global consensus which condemns all types of asbestos as extremely harmful to human health, Read the Rest…

May 19th, 2010

Legal News about Asbestos from Japan

A Japanese district court has ruled that the government was negligent in taking precautions to protect workers, and must compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases.
The Osaka District Court has ordered the Japanese government to pay 430 million yen, or $4.6 million, to 29 plaintiffs suffering from asbestosis and asbestos-related cancer. The ruling is the first to Read the Rest…

May 13th, 2010

California Legislature Takes First Step to Bring Cal/OSHA up to Par: AB 2774 Will Correct Erroneous Definition of Serious Physical Harm

On May 5, the California State Assembly Labor & Employment Committee passed AB 2774.  The legislative proposal was in response to a Federal OSHA letter to the Division of Occupational Safety & Health [Cal/OSHA] and a letter to the Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board [OSH Appeals Board] criticizing the California program for not meeting Read the Rest…

May 11th, 2010

Workers Memorial Day 2010: Ending Worker Deaths

On April 28, 2010, gatherings were held around the world to honor those who have died on the job and to organize for the prevention of future work-related deaths. Despite decades of struggle by workers and their unions to improve workplace safety and health, thousands of people in the U.S. still die each year from Read the Rest…

May 3rd, 2010

Great News: We are Proud to Announce that Leigh Kirmssé is our Newest Partner

Leigh has joined our Firm after an almost-20-year career as a trial lawyer, most recently as a partner at Howrey LLP, one of the country’s outstanding corporate and commercial firms. She has had a brilliant career trying cases all over the country and will focus her efforts with us as trial counsel, devoting her time Read the Rest…

April 28th, 2010

Workers Memorial Day 2010: Ending Worker Deaths

OAKLAND – On April 28, 2010, worker health and safety advocates around the world observe Workers’ Memorial Day.
President Obama stated in his April 15 remarks addressing the victims of the Massey mine explosion, “We owe them action. We owe them accountability. We owe them an assurance that when they go to work every day, when Read the Rest…

April 28th, 2010

Hope and Medical Reality

Friedrich Nietzsche once cynically wrote, “Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man.” For victims of mesothelioma and their families, the dismal prognosis of this disease and the search for answers often takes them beyond the bounds of conventional medicine. All too often, they find themselves victimized again. Motivated by Read the Rest…