mobile version

HOME/OVERVIEW
MESOTHELIOMA
Pleural Mesothelioma/Peritoneal
Mesothelioma Symptoms
  and Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Staging
Treatment Options
Alimta Medication
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
LUNG CANCER INFORMATION
Types of Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Lung Cancer Staging
Lung Cancer Treatment Options
CANCER HOSPITALS
Locations By State
Questions and Information
 From Your Doctor
AT RISK JOBS
VETERAN'S RESOURCES
VA Hospitals, Clinics, & Centers
Veteran Service Officers
History, Ships, & Shipyards
CANCER INFORMATION RESOURCES
Mesothelioma News
Patient Stories
Web Resources
Patient Handout
Glossary of Terms
SITE MAP
Contact us

 Search for information:
 
      Match:
any search words
all search words

Click Here for a Free
Information Packet

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please call
1-800-400-1805

We will gladly answer your
questions and send a free
packet with additional
information on:

  • New treatment options
  • New clinical trials
  • Doctors
  • Hazardous jobs and products
  • Veteran's Resources
  • Financial Assistance

 

 

 





Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Information
    
1-800-400-1805

 

 

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer News - Return to Menu

Seniors to Congress: An Asbestos Trust Fund is the Only Answer to the Current Broken Asbestos Litigation System

To: National Desk and Health Reporter

Contact: Ben Boxer of the Seniors Coalition, 703-631-4211

WASHINGTON, April 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Amid media reports that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter is preparing to formally introduce legislation that would address the asbestos legal crisis later this week, three seniors organizations -The Seniors Coalition, RetireSafe, and 60 Plus Association -- today sent a letter to all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging them to adopt a trust find solution to the current broken system.

"A trust fund solution is the only solution that will guarantee that sick victims receive certain and timely compensation," the three seniors groups wrote in a letter sent earlier today. "Seniors who enter the court system in search of compensation today face long waits for court dates -- some must wait years. For some seniors with grave asbestos-related illnesses, that wait is too long, and they die without ever receiving any compensation."

Specter's bill is expected to include a trust fund that would pay asbestos claims on a no-fault basis, and take the current backlog of asbestos cases out of the court system. The trust would be financed by asbestos defendant companies and their insurers.

The seniors groups urged Senators not to let this important legislation be waylaid by trial lawyers and other special interests.

"Sick asbestos victims simply can't wait any longer for a solution to this growing crisis," the groups said.

The full text of the letter signed by the seniors group is included below.

April 12, 2005

Dear Senator:

On behalf of senior citizens across the country, we would like to underline the importance of adopting a trust fund solution to fix our out-of-control asbestos litigation system. A trust fund is the only solution that will guarantee that sick victims receive certain and timely compensation.

Our nation's seniors dominated the workforce during the era when asbestos was commonly used for fireproofing and insulation. Today, a large number of these seniors suffer from deadly asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Seniors who enter the court system in search of compensation today face long waits for court dates -- some must wait years. For some seniors with grave asbestos-related illnesses, that wait is too long, and they die without ever receiving any compensation.

Only the asbestos victims compensation fund approach will solve these problems by compensating sick victims quickly and fairly. If you are sick with an asbestos-related illness, you will get paid under the asbestos victims compensation fund -- it is as simple as that. Individuals who get sicker after their initial award would qualify for additional compensation.

Under the current system, as much as 60 percent of all jury awards to victims goes to attorneys and the courts to cover legal fees. The asbestos victims compensation fund would eliminate lawyer profiteering once and for all, because victims would no longer have to hire a lawyer to file a claim. As a result, victims and their families would finally get the funds they deserve.

This issue is too important to be waylaid by trial lawyers and other special interests. The asbestos litigation system is broken and must be fixed. A trust fund solution is the only viable solution. And because the fund will be paid for by businesses and insurance companies, it won't be a burden on taxpayers.

The current system must be changed. Please think of seniors and other victims and act quickly. Sick asbestos victims simply can't wait any longer for a solution to this growing crisis.

Sincerely,

David Herman, executive director, The Seniors Coalition

Charles G. Hardin, president, RetireSafe

James L. Martin, president, 60 Plus Association

https://www.usnewswire.com/


Residents Displaced After Asbestos Finding Want Answers

August 3, 2006 - DENVER -- It's been eight weeks since about 300 Denver residents were forced from their homes because of asbestos. The residents said Thursday they know no more than they did the day they were evacuated and yet, they have not been allowed to return.

The High-Line Terrace Apartments, located in the 1000 block of South Parker Road in Denver, were evacuated in May after workers discovered airborne asbestos.

"I have been sleeping on the floor for eight weeks," said resident Leslie Wingerath. "I was told to take my necessities and that is it. They actually had the audacity to tell us that is all we could take."

To this day, not even one building has had abatement done.

"We think the work that has been done today is the appropriate work," said Margi Perkins of the Colorado Health Department. "It would be nice if work could be done faster, but clearly, to get through 45 floors and 350 units and make the kind of assessments that need to be made, we think the appropriate amount of work has been done. To that extent, it's adequate."

On Monday, the contractor on the project is expected to submit a plan to the Health Department explaining what they are going to do about cleaning and returning belongings to displaced residents.

"All these people on all these different levels may not have a legal obligation to take care of this, but does anybody do the right thing just to do the right thing," said Wingerath.

7NEWS left messages with the owners of the property to get some answers. As of Thursday, they had not returned the calls.


To Obtain the Best Treatment Info & Financial Assistance contact us for a FREE INFORMATION PACKET which includes:

Doctors & Cancer Hospitals
Clinical Trials
Hazardous Jobs/ Products
New Treatment Options
Veteran's Resources
Financial Assistance

Fill out the form below or call 1-800-400-1805.

Use the "tab" key to move to the next field, not enter.

First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State
Zip

Phone

Email
 

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed or have:
   
Mesothelioma:

Yes   No
Lung Cancer:

Yes   No
Had a biopsy?:


Yes   No
Did you or your loved one work around asbestos?:
Yes   No
 

Comment /
Info Request

Please just hit the order button once, then wait for the form to be sent

 

Site Map | Mesothelioma | Alimta | Lung Cancer | Non-small cell lung cancer | Small cell lung cancer | Asbestos Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer Symptoms | Mesothelioma News | Mesothelioma Symptoms | Pleural Mesothelioma | Symptoms | Breaking News | Patient Handout | Treatment | Mesothelioma Patients | Mesothelioma Causes | Mesothelioma Climical Trials | Mesothelioma treatment | Veteran's Resources | Mesothelioma Treatments