Landmark Criminal Case Against European Executives Responsible for Deadly Asbestos Exposure
On Monday, February 13, 2012, a three-judge panel in Turin, Italy found Swiss tycoon, Stephen Schmidheiny, former owner of the Swiss-Belgium industrial company Eternit, and Belgium Baron Jean-Louis de Cartier de Marchiennet, an Eternit shareholder, guilty and responsible for causing nearly 3,000 asbestos-related deaths in Italy. In a groundbreaking decision, the Court sentenced the two Eternit executives to 16 years each in prison and ordered them to pay millions in damages to over 6,000 victims, including former workers and nearby residents of the company's four asbestos-cement factories in Italy. The executives were further ordered to pay millions to several Italian towns, trade unions and insurers for cleanup costs associated with the company's asbestos contamination. The initial investigation began in 1999 and the trial lasted more than two years. Countless court sessions were attended by thousands of asbestos victims and representatives of more than sixty asbestos victims associations, while the two executives never once appeared in person. This historic decision has been hailed as the largest asbestos trial ever and is the first to involve criminal charges against company executives. The convictions mark a turning point in the fight against the asbestos industry and sends a powerful message that it is simply criminal to knowingly expose workers and their families to asbestos. Please click here to read the full article.
Promising New Results from Immuno-Gene Therapy in the Treatment of Mesothelioma
By: Jennifer L. Harwood, Esq.
In the December 15, 2011 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported promising new results from a small clinical trial using an immune-based gene therapy in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. Nine individuals suffering from varying stages of mesothelioma were enrolled in the study. A modified cold virus called an adenovirus was injected directly into each individual's chest cavity at the site of the cancer. The direct introduction of the virus was reported to have caused an increase in the levels of a powerful immune system stimulant called interferon-alpha within the tumor which led to an activation of the patient's own immune system against the disease. As a result, antibody responses against the tumor were found in almost all of the participants. Although no clinical responses were observed in the four individuals suffering from advanced stage mesothelioma, evidence of disease stability or tumor regression was observed in the remaining five participants.
For more than five years, scientists have been trying to use gene therapy in the fight against cancer. Numerous laboratories across the world have been involved in research to find the right combination of genes to attack the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells alone. This groundbreaking clinical study from the researchers at the University of Pennsylvania offers new hope for the treatment of those suffering from early-stage mesothelioma.
September 26, 2011-Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Keefe Bartels has been representing victims of asbestos-related diseases for over three decades. As National Mesothelioma Awareness Day this September 26, 2011 approaches, we are reminded of the countless people who have been tragically impacted by asbestos and the need for public awareness and action.
We also want to remind you that under New Jersey law, if a person suffering from asbestosis sues and later develops another asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer after the asbestosis case is over, that person may be able to file another lawsuit against the companies responsible for the disease and receive additional compensation.
Our firm is dedicated to fighting on behalf of families who have suffered from mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases and we honor those men and women who have courageously battled these diseases.
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Help us make Meso Awareness Day 2011 the most successful one yet! Get involved and raise awareness of mesothelioma and funds for mesothelioma research!
Hope on the Horizon
By: Jennifer L. Harwood, Esq.
Several clinical trials are underway in the hopes of identifying a vaccine to effectively treat asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma. News recently emerged of a promising vaccine being used in a clinical trial in Britain involving pancreatic cancer which may also benefit those affected by other cancers such as mesothelioma. Researchers at Liverpool University describe the "TeloVac job" as a new generation of drugs that "use the body's own defenses to fight cancer, stopping tumors in their tracks." The vaccine is being developed by GemVax, a Korean company, whose founder, Dr. Jay Sangjae Kim, believes the vaccine has the potential to overcome the limits of other current cancer vaccines and become part of the standard of care for various types of cancers. The current trial includes over 1,000 men and women in the late stages of pancreatic cancer and although the results are not yet available, some participants have reportedly claimed that years have been added to their lives as a result. The vaccine essentially acts as a form of treatment by enabling the body's immune system to kill an enzyme called telomerase, which makes cancer cells indestructible when present by allowing the tumor to grow and spread.
Researchers are hopeful that this new vaccine will be effective against various types of cancers. The vaccine is especially promising for those affected by mesothelioma as it is one of the most aggressive types of cancers with limited treatment options, similar to pancreatic cancer. The study is being funded by Cancer Research UK and the vaccine could be available to help treat pancreatic cancer by the end of 2013.
Thursday, April 28, 2011 is known as Workers' Memorial Day - an international day of remembrance of victims of workplace injuries and disease. It is also a day designed to unite workers, their families, communities, unions and others in an effort to continue the fight for workplace safety. The first Worker's Memorial Day was recognized in the United States in 1989 and the date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"). There are numerous global events held on this day including active campaigning for increased safety measures, workplace awareness events, speeches throughout the world, laying of wreathes, planting of trees and even the laying out of empty shoes to symbolize those who have lost their lives at work.
While researching Workers' Memorial Day, I came across a link sponsored by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization ("ADAO") requesting that visitors light an interactive candle online in honor of our loved ones fighting asbestos-related diseases and in loving memory of those who have lost their courageous battles. As I went in to light my candle, I paused momentarily to reflect upon the countless men and women whom I have had the distinct honor of getting to know and representing and whom had lost their lives due to various work-related hazards, including asbestos. Although I certainly expected to be impacted when lighting the candle, I was not prepared for the flood of memories and emotions that followed. In particular, I was reminded of the fact that these workers suffered devastating injuries and disease as a result of innocently going to work in order to provide for their families. These men and women left their homes each day just like all of us in order to do all that was necessary to provide for their families and to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, by the time I had met these courageous men and women, they were already suffering from asbestos-related disease including mesothelioma and were in the midst of undergoing treatment. Despite the fact that these individuals were suffering the horrible effects of asbestos-related disease, each and every one of them made it known that their primary concern both then and now was protecting and providing for their families.
Although Workers' Memorial Day continues to be largely unknown by many Americans, it is important that we take the time to remember the workplace heroes who paid the ultimate price to provide for their families and make the world a better place. While we cannot ignore the pain and grief, we must also seek comfort in the fond memories and continue to honor these men and women. As of the afternoon of April 27, 2011, there had been 20,785 candles lit from 138 countries shining brightly in remembrance of all those who sacrificed their lives for us and as a call for action to continue the fight for increased workplace health and safety.
Reflections on Asbestos Awareness Week
By: Jennifer L. Harwood, Esq.
On the heels of the 7th Annual National Asbestos Awareness Week observed April 1-April 7, 2011, we are reminded of the countless lives that have been tragically impacted by asbestos. With enhanced awareness throughout the world, this marks the 7th time that Congress has passed a resolution dedicating a week to raising public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and urging the Surgeon General to educate and warn people about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Key supporters of the resolution declared the first week of April an Asbestos Awareness Week in an effort to bring the tragedies of asbestos victims to the forefront and urge the community to arm itself with the tools it needs to prevent asbestos related diseases through education and advocacy.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of devastating diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. In addition, some medical studies suggest an increased risk for developing other types of cancers due to asbestos exposure. According to estimates from the World Health Organization ("WHO"), more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases - equaling 300 deaths per day. Despite knowledge that asbestos causes cancer, roughly 125 million people continue to be regularly exposed to asbestos in the workplace. The dedication of a National Asbestos Awareness Week reminds us that "these aren't just numbers; these are individuals, families and friends who have been impacted by preventable deadly diseases," as stated by Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Awareness Organization.
With knowledge comes power and we are hopeful that the annual observance of a National Asbestos Week will continue to advance asbestos awareness and help end asbestos related diseases.
