Asbestos Cancer Litigation: Fighting Back

Big Verdicts / Big Settlements * Below are results obtained on behalf of clients of RGW, PC

• $34 Million for Carpenter, Maintenance Man. Los Angeles County, CA (10/10/06)
• $15.25 Million Jury Verdict to Widow of Mason and Boilermaker. Los Angeles County, CA (9/7/06)
• $6.2 Million in Settlements for 71Year-Old Pipe Contractor. Los Angeles County, CA (9/6/06)

• $8.25 Million in Settlements for 59 Year-Old Boiler Tender, Operator. Los Angeles County, CA (8/15/06)

• $7.4 Million in Settlements for 71 Year-Old Public Relations Manager. Los Angeles County, CA (8/6/06)

• $6.9 Million in Settlements for 54 Year-Old Housewife of Drywaller/Carpenter. Harris County, TX (7/26/06)
• Man Exposed to Asbestos at Side Job Awarded $12.6 Million. Los Angeles, CA (7/5/06)
• Los Angeles Jury Awards $3.4 Million. Los Angeles County, CA (5/30/06)
• $5.7 Million in Settlements for 65 Year Old Project Manager. Brazoria County, TX (3/28/06)
• $3 Million in Settlements for 66 Year Old Cement Mason. Dallas County, TX (8/8/05)
• $4.8 Million for 76 Year Old Carpenter and Contractor. Los Angeles County, CA (6/22/05)
• Jury Awards Woman's Family $10 Million in Asbestos Case Against Ford. Brazoria County, TX (6/1/04)
• Jury Awards $3.5 Million to Deceased Pipefitter's Family. El Paso, TX (5/28/04)
• $7.3 Million in Settlements for Electrician. Dallas County, TX (5/26/04)
• $4.247 Million in Settlements for Engineer. Illinois (5/26/04)
• $3.4 Million in Settlements for Brake Mechanic. Los Angeles County, CA (4/27/04)
• $7 Million in Settlements for Boiler Operator. Dallas County, TX (9/22/03)
• $9 Million in Settlements for Asbestos Worker. Dallas County, TX (9/16/03)
• $6.5 Million in Settlements for 62-Year Old Ex-Serviceman, Mechanic. Orange County, TX (9/4/03)
• $2.5 Million in Settlements for 57 Year Old Ex-Serviceman, Cabinetmaker. Tarrant County, TX (6/12/03)
• $11 Million in Settlements, age 53, Household Exposure, Southern California (6/11/03)
• $2.16 Million in Settlements for 57 Year Old Office Worker. Dallas County, TX (4/15/03)
• $4.754 Million in Settlements for 72 Year Old Laborer, Surveyor and Brake Mechanic. Tarrant County, TX (2/27/03)
• $1.35 Million in Settlements for 60 Year Old Laborer, Welder. Orange County, TX (11/20/02)
• $6.4 Million in Settlements for 64 Year Old Sheetmetal Worker. Dallas County, TX (11/7/02)
• $4 Million in Settlements for 71 Year Old Maintenance Worker. Nueces County, TX (11/7/02)
• $7 Million in Settlements for 70 Year Old Drywall Contractor. Nueces County, TX (11/7/02
• $5.9 Million in Settlements for 73 Year Old Boiler Tender, Millwright and Maintenance Supervisor. Nueces County, TX (9/7/02)
• $9 Million in Settlements for 64 year old Insulator and Drywaller, Dallas County, TX (8/29/02)
• $5.3 Million in Settlement for 62 year old Machinist Wife, Los Angeles County, CA (8/29/02)
• $3.3 Million in Settlements for 61 Year Old Roofer, Drywaller and Carpenter. Dallas County, TX (4/25/02)
• $4.5 Million in Settlements for 59 Year Old Laborer and Corporate Pilot. Dallas County, TX (4/8/02)
• $7.5 Million in Settlements for 79 Year Old Sheet Metal Worker and Contractor. Nueces County, TX (1/14/02)
• $5.5 Million in Settlements for 62 Year Old Factory Worker. Nueces County, TX (1/14/02)
• $5.25 Million in Settlements for 72 Year Old Laborer. Bexar County, TX (11/2/01)
• $2.45 Million in Settlements for 65 Year Old Operator. Travis County, TX (11/2/01)
• $11.1 Million In Settlements for 64 Year Old Former Pastor, Funeral Director and Businessman. Sweetwater, TX (9/14/01)
• $3.5 Million in Settlements for 73 Year Old Contractor. Dallas, TX (7/11/01)
• $4.7 Million in Settlements for 75 Year Old Insulator. Los Angeles, CA (6/20/01)
• $5.7 Million in Settlements for 78 Year Old Plumber. Nueces County, TX (6//20/01)
• $2.9 Million in Settlements for 79 Year old Pipefitter, Lorain, OH (10/17/00)
• $7.2 Million Settlement, 53 years old, US Navy Machinist.
  ** Filed in December, 1999 and Settled in September, 2000 in Milam County, TX (9/20/00)
• $2.089 Million in Settlements, Lewiston, ID (9/18/00)
• $3 Million in Settlements for 55 Year Old Mother, Richardson, TX (8/22/00)
• $1.6 Million in Settlements for 59 Year Old Military Man, Police Officer, Irving, TX (8/22/00)
• $4.6 Million in Settlements, 54 Year Old Business Owner, Little Elm, TX (5/12/00)
• $7.4 Million in Settlements, 54 Year Old Engineer, Elkhart, IN (5/5/00)
• $4.6 Million in Settlements, 62 Year Old Boilermaker/Engineer, Valparaiso, IN (5/5/00)
• $4.4 Million in Settlements, 58 Year Old Housewife, Valparaiso, IN (5/5/00)
• $3 Million in Settlements, 71 Year Old Police Officer, East Hartford, CT (5/5/00)
• $1.9 Million in Settlements, 63 Year Old Machinist Mate, Henderson, NV (4/14/00)
• $1.8 Million in Settlements, 59 Year Old State Trooper, Sewickley, PA (4/14/00)
• $2.19 Million, Drywaller/Navy (1950s), Mesothelioma, age 65, Bend, OR (2/17/00)
• $2.89 Million, Navy (1960's)/Millwright, Mesothelioma, age 55, Lake Park, GA (2/17/00)
• $2.785 Million, Navy/boilermaker (1940's), Mesothelioma, 73, San Leandro, CA (2/17/00)
• $3.08 Million, Navy electrician (1957-1961), Mesothelioma, age 60, Morro Bay, CA (2/17/00)
• $3.3 Million, Navy Machinist/operator/tech (INEL), Mesothelioma, age 61, Idaho Falls, ID (2/17/00)
• $4.962 Million, Navy boiler inspector/tender (1966-78), Mesothelioma, age 60, Grass Valley, CA (2/17/00)
• $3.78 Million, Navy Machinist (1959-64), Aircraft metal fitter, Mesothelioma, age 56, Buena Park, CA (2/17/00)
• $3 Million in Settlements, San Pedro, CA (12/14/99)
• $5 Million in Settlements for Boiler Tender, Fort Worth, TX (11/23/99)
• $3.7 Millionin Settlements, Milam County, TX (9/30/99)
• $3.5 Millionin Settlements, Canyon Lake, TX (9/20/99)
• $2,177,500in Settlements for Steelworker/Boilermaker, Battle Creek, MI (9/7/99)
• $2,473,400in Settlements for Former Firefighter. Vancouver, WA (8/27/99)
• $1.738 Millionin Settlements, Steelworker, Pittsburgh, PA (6/3/99)
• $5.2 Million in Settlements, 75 Year Old Insulator's Wife, St. Louis, MO (5/17/99)
• $1.65 Million in Settlements, Bishop, TX (2/3/99)
• $1.617 Millionin Settlements for Retired Construction Worker, Fort Worth, TX (1/20/99)
• $1.65 Million, Phoenix, AZ (11/16/98)
• $3 Millionin Settlements for Boilermaker, San Francisco, CA
• $2.1 MillionSettlement for Steelworker
• $2.925 Settlement in New York
• $3.2 Millionin Settlements for Louisiana Family
• Corpus Christi Jury Awards $8.5 Million to Family of Doug Walters, Dec'd
  Higher Court Affirms Trial Judgment Against PCC!! (9/1/99)
• Brownsville Jury Awards $8 Million
• Beaumont Jury Awards $4.35 Million
• Court of AppealsUpholds Bilder's Jury Award! (1/8/98)
• $1,000,500 Settlement, Seattle, Washington

Bankrupt Defendants (Click Here for a List Bankrupt Manufacturers)

• Key to Owens Corning Bankruptcy Exit (10/25/06)
• OCF and Fibreboard $5.1 Billion Asbestos Settlement Trust Approved, Takes Effect October 30, 2006. (10/4/06)
• Flintkote Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition (5/28/04)
• Despite 3 years in Bankruptcy, Former Asbestos Behemoth USG reports Record High Profits (5/13/04)
• Liability Lawsuits Galore Dog 3M Over Dust Masks (4/18/4)
• When Bankruptcy Means "Business as Usual" (3/5/04)
• Big Three Automakers Sue Honeywell (9/29/03)
• NASCAR: First Refuge of Broke-down Asbestos Bankrupts (4/2/03)
• Message to Asbestos Defense: Solve the Problem, Cure the Cancer (3/31/03)
• ABB And Combustion Engineering Reach Asbestos Agreement (2/14/03)
• J T Thorpe Co. Files Prepackaged Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan (11/20/02)
• Unimpaired Claims Explosion Accelerates Bankruptcies (2/18/02)
• A.P. Green and Harbison-Walker File for Bankruptcy (2/15/02)
• Kaiser Aluminum Files for Bankruptcy (2/14/02)
• North American Refractories Files for Chapter 11 (1/7/02)
• Firms Hit Hard As Asbestos Claims Rise (12/18/01)
• Federal-Mogul Corporation Files for Chapter 11 (10/1/01)
• Study: All Major Asbestos Makers Face Bankruptcy (8/15/01)
• U.S. Mineral Files for Chapter 11 (7/23/01)
• U.S. Gypsum Files for Chapter 11 (6/28/01)
• Former Asbestos Maker USG Considers Bankruptcy (6/4/01)
• W.R.Grace Files for Chapter 11 (4/2/01)
• Owens Corning Files for Bankruptcy (10/5/00)
• Against Backdrop of Rash of Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Time to Consider Legislation That Preserves Right of Access to Courts for Malignancy/Disabled Asbestos Victims. (12/4/00)
  • An Addendum -- 3/7/01

Chrysotile Asbestos

• There's No Way Around It, Even Canada's Chrysotile Form of Asbestos Is a Major Health Hazard (10/17/06)
• Asbestos is Not Banned in North America (10/9/06)
• Dirty Little Secret - Asbestos Laces Many residential Soils (7/10/06)
• Canadian MPs Call for End to Canada's Promotion of Asbestos Exports - CBC Radio - World Report (5/2/06)
• Canada's Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl Breaks Ranks with His Own Party over Asbestos - CBC Radio - The House (5/2/06)
• The Health Effects of White Asbestos (2/23/06)
• Automobile Manufacturers Manufacture a Defense to Asbestos Liability (10/24/05)
• Support for Asbestos Makes Canada an 'International Pariah' (8/29/05)
• Short Thin Asbestos Fibers Predominant Cause of Mesothelioma -- Dr. Suzuki (2005) (8/15/05)
• Tracing Asbestos Victims is Tough (7/11/05)
• Supreme Court Justice Mark Davidson Calls a Strike, Denying Defendant's Motion to Exclude Evidence That Chrysotile Fibers Are a Cause of Mesothelioma (7/5/05)
• New Research Report Urges Stop to Further 9/11 Fatalities (1/31/05)
• Malignant Atypical Mesothelioma of the Pleura in a Worker with Brief Exposure to Chrysotile Asbestos (1/31/05)
• Chrysotile Asbestos as a Cause of Mesothelioma: Application of the Hill Causation Model (12/20/04)
• Canadian Asbestos Victims Group: Ban Profiteering from the Export of Chrysotile! (9/3/04)
• Bruce Case, MD, EPA Consultant for Asbestos: Misrepresentations and Slander Against Other Scientists (4/16/04)
• Asbestos Brake Companies Promote Myth that Chrysotile is Safe. Letter to EPA by Dr. David Egilman (11/20/03)
• Asbestos Fiber Length as Related to Potential Pathogenicity A Critical Review. Dodson, Atkinson and Levin (Univ. of Texas at Tyler), May 2003 (conclusionall fiber types of all lengths and dimensions cause asbestos disease and cancer, not just the longer fibers). (5/13/03)
  (NOTE: you will need to view the article [.pdf] using Adobe Acrobat)
• World Production and Consumption of Asbestos (1990s) (4/16/03)
• Message to Asbestos Defense: Solve the Problem, Cure the Cancer (3/31/03)
• Important Studies Relating To Asbestos Fiber Size. (11/4/02)
  * Asbestos tissue burden study on human malignant mesothelioma.
  * Asbestos fibers contributing to the induction of human malignant mesothelioma.
• No Doubt About it! Medical/Scientific Literature Overwhelmingly Proves that Canadian Chrysotile Asbestos Used in the US Causes Malignant Mesothelioma in Americans. (3/21/02)
• Bogus Asbestos Defense De Jour: Chrysotile Fibers Don't Cause Mesothelioma (and fire doesn't burn!) (5/11/01)
  Scientists Respond
  • Richard A. Lemen, Ph.D (There is "no doubt that the scientific evidence supports the carcinogencity of chrysotile alone in the induction of mesothelioma.") For a complete review of Dr. Lemen's research in support of his conclusion, click here.
  • Dr. Douglas A. Pohl ("In summary, it is clear from the published medical literature that chrysotile asbestos causes mesothelioma"). For a complete review of Dr. Pohl's research in support of his conclusion, click here.
• Dr. Bruce Case " I have only ever done that once, and it was obviously a silly thing to do and I won't do it again." (4/19/01)
• The Hazards of Chrysotile Asbestos: A Critical Review (8/24/99)
• Roger Worthington responds to Dr. Case: "Thank you for your comments and the friendly "heads up." I always appreciate a little notice before the storm. " (9/11/98)
• Bruce Case, M.D. to Roger Worthington: "This is to inform you that your website posting regarding Marilyn Bertrand contains inaccurate medical description and false allegations regarding the asbestos mines ..." (8/17/98)

CCR Class Action Busted!

• A Major Victoryfor Individual Rights
• Fightingthe Monster.

Other News..

• Halliburton Units File for Bankruptcy (12/17/03)
• EPA Warning On Asbestos is Under Attack (10/27/03)
• Asbestos Trust Fund a Business Windfall? (7/10/03)
• Hatch Asbestos Bill Gets Halliburton Out of Jail Free! (6/11/03)
• Barriers to Treatment Can be Both Physical and Financial: CNN Lou Dobbs Moneyline (2/6/03)
• Talks Held in Bid to End Asbestos Suits (2/6/03)
• Asbestos-Linked Cancers Show Unexpected Decline in Sweden (12/3/02)
• Families of Workers Blame Deaths On Plant's Use of Asbestos (11/4/02)
• Asbestos Has Had Serious, Not-So-Serious Uses Over Time (11/4/02)
• The Victims Of A Stealthy Killer (11/3/02)
• Asbestos Diseases Wait To Attack (11/3/02)
• Union Carbide Liable for Asbestos Illnesses (10/28/02)
• No Proof Polio Vaccine Later Caused Cancer (10/23/02)
• Halliburton Sees Asbestos Exposure at $600 Million Through 2015 (9/3/02)
• Halliburton Deals With Negative PR (9/3/02)
• Judge ‘Amazed’ by Honeywell Removal Attempt; Threatens Sanctions (5/8/02)
• Asbestos Touted for Paper Use, 60s Memo Says (3/21/02)
• Asbestos Claims Threat Haunts Europe's Insurers (2/5/02)
• Halliburton Rejecting Asbestos Settlements (1/27/02)
• Unique Suit Targets Appliance Firms Family Claims Asbestos Killed Local Repairman. San Clemente, CA (3/20/01)
• Legal Documents Raise Question of Whether Polio Vaccines Remained Tainted With SV40 After 1961, HarrisMartin Reports. (12/13/00)
• SV40, Asbestos, and Mesothelioma - Where Are We Going? (11/7/00)
• WTO: French Asbestos Ban Is Legal (9/20/00)
• Good News! Supreme Court Affirms Rights of Asbestos Victims to Seek Remedies in Court, Overturns Sham Fibreboard Class Action. (6/24/99)
• 259,000 AsbestosDeaths - And Counting, (6/21/99)
• Analysis of Proposed Federal Asbestos Legislation -- The So-Called "Fairness in Asbestos Compensation Act" (2/15/99)
• Asbestos Bills Threaten Legal Rights of Tens of Thousands of Injured Workers and Their Families (1/28/99)
• Florida Appellate Court Upholds $31 Million Punitive Damage Award Against Owens Corning Fiberglas in Mesothelioma Case
• US Supremes Bust CCR Class Action!
• Fibreboard Class Action Against The Ropes!
• Asbestos Class Action Update: US Supremes to Review Fibreboard Sweetheart Deal (6/24/98)

Labor Union Members Represented

• State, Federal, & OSHA Labor Law Posters: http://www.sfollp.net/
• Alaska, California, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Washington
• Punch's Corner Dave "Punch" Worthington, Ph.D, Asbestos Investigator
• Punch Worthington "Here's why Asbestos Needs All Those Rules", Albany Democrat-Herald (5/29/02)

Conceptual Issues in Health Policy and Occupational/Environmental Health

• Professor Dr. David Egilman CV

Workers Compensation Statutes - A Dead End

• Documents Show Insurance Industry Downplayed Asbestos Data (11/11/03)
• Asbestos Victims Denied Justice
• W. R. Grace Exposed to Intentional Poisoning Lawsuits
• Washington Supreme Court Sides With Workers

The Bottom Line

• ...asbestos manufacturers noted an increase in the number of asbestos personal injury claims filed against them...