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WILLIS
LAW FIRM
1221 McKinney
Suite #3333
Houston, Texas
TOLL FREE
1(800)883-9858
1(800)468-4878

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MESOTHELIOMA & ASBESTOS
LUNG CANCER
ASBESTOS EXPOSURES ON SHIPS & MARITIME VESSELS
CAN THE JONES ACT HELP THE INJURED SEAMAN
?
Malignant
mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer. It is a disease in which malignant
cancer cells are found in the sac lining of the Pleural Mesothelioma (chest
and lungs ) or Peritoneal Mesothelioma (abdomen). The prognosis in this
disease is difficult to diagnose, due to the great variability in the time
before diagnosis and the rate of disease progression.The first indication of
Mesothelioma is often by a simple chest X-Ray. For more clarification or
confirmation, a biopsy or removal operation may be needed. Mesothelioma
is categorized in Stages I, II, III and IV,
MESOTHELIOMA STAGES
Patients in Stage I of
the Disease have a significantly better prognosis than those with more
advanced stage. However, due to the relative rarity of this disease,
exact survival information based upon stage is limited. A proposed
staging system based upon thoracic surgery principals and clinical data is
shown below.
STAGE I :(LOCALIZED)
Disease is confined within the capsule of the parietal pleura(ipsilateral
pleura, lung, pericardium, and the diaphragm.
STAGE II :(ADVANCED)
All of Stage I with the addition of intrathoracic(N1 or N2)lymph nodes.
STAGE III :(ADVANCED) Local extension of the disease into the
following: chest wall or mediastinum, heart or through the
diaphragm, peritoneum: ( with or without extrathoracic or contralateral
(N3)lymph node involvement.
STAGE IV : (ADVANCED)
Distant metastatic disease process.
Localized Malignant
Mesothelioma--see Stage I
Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma--see
Stages II, II,& IV
MESOTHELIOMA--TREATMENT OPTIONS :
S tandard treatment
for all but localized mesothelioma is generally NOT curative. Although
some
patients will experience long-term with aggressive treatment approaches,
it remains unclear if overall survival can be significantly altered by
the different treatment methods or by combinations of methods. Extrapleural
pneumonectomy in selected patient with very early stage disease may improve
recurrence-free survival, but its impact on overall survival is unknown.
Pleurectomy and Decortication can provide palliative relief from symptomatic
effusions, discomfort caused by tumor burden and pain caused by invasive
tumors.The use of radiation therapy in pleural mesothelioma has been shown
to alleviate pain in the majority of patients treated. Unfortunately, the
duration of symptom control is short-lived. Single agent and combined
chemotherapy have reported higher response rates in STAGE II patients,
however the toxicity reported is also higher and there is no evidence that
combination
treatments result in longer survival or longer control of the symptoms.
HOW DID I GET MESOTHELIOMA ? Anyone
who has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, has probably already been told that
they must have been to asbestos. Many products in years past had
extremely high concentrations of asbestos including insulation (pipe,
boiler,block & Cement),engine
rooms, asbestos gaskets, textiles, fireproofing, spackling, patching
compounds, gaskets, packings, asbestos-cement pipe, sheet material, ceiling
tiles, wallboard, siding, roofing brakes and clutches.
Asbestos
diseases follow a "dose-response" relationship curve, meaning the
more asbestos fibers one inhales(doses) AND the higher number of exposures,
then the higher the risk of an asbestos related disease.
NOTE: neither,
either or both MAY lead to one becomes sick from that exposure depends
in part as
to ones susceptibility to asbestos.The shortest latency period (from the
date of
first exposure) for asbestosis is roughly 5-10 years, although often it takes
30-40 years or more from the first exposure before the disease is diagnosed.
There is no maximum latency period, since asbestos fibers remain in the lungs
for life.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MESOTHELIOMA
VICTIMS:
If you
or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, call our
office for
a Free Confidential Consultation concerning
the very important legal and medical issues. Due to the SERIOUS NATURE
of this disease it is extremely important to move very quickly to investigate
the work
history, obtain names of co-workers, try and identify the types and brands
of asbestos products in ones past, and document the different locations
and
names of ship and other vessels that the exposed worker came into contact
with asbestos. While we understand it very difficult to remember
each and every place one worked or the types or brands of asbestos one
is exposed
to, we have found that once a worker goes through notebooks of asbestos
documents, catalogs and advertisements from the 1940's through the 1970's,
the proper identification of the products is greatly improved. PROPER
BACKGROUND HISTORY AND INVESTIGATION TAKES TIME.. therefore, the sooner one
begins the better. It is especially the case when we are dealing with a client
whose life has been turned completely upside down due to the disease, the
medical treatments and the knowledge of the finality of the disease.
****
Immediately upon being hired by an injured worker or their family, an complete
interview, work history, product ID, and medical background is done. Then
with most Mesothelioma patients, suit MUST BE FILED IMMEDIATELY in order to
obtain sworn evidence of the exposure, work history and product ID. The
clients condition, physical pains, anguish, and evidence are documented in a
sworn deposition. Often times these depositions take place at the
clients house, hospital or some another convenient and comfortable location
for the client. In other cases, due to the advanced stage of this disease,
a deposition of the injured worker may be impossible, and other ways of
obtaining the necessary information and proof has to be pursued.
IN
MESOTHELIOMA CASES...TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ... DON'T WAIT... NOT ONLY DOES
THIS DISEASE RUN ITS HORRIBLE COURSE.. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION GOVERNING
YOUR CASE IS ALSO A FACTOR THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IF YOU WAIT
TOO LONG, THEN IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECOVERY. IF YOU DON'T
KNOW THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT A LEGAL ACTION MUST BE FILED, CALL AND WE WILL
ASSIST
YOU IN DETERMINING THAT DATE... WE DO NOT CHARGE UNLESS WE WIN. NO ATTORNEY
FEES OR EXPENSES UNLESS WE RECOVERY FOR YOU...!!!
If
you have been injured on a ship, rig or vessel that you believe was
unseaworthy or that your injuries were caused in part by the negligent
conduct of your Jones Act employer or fellow seaman or due the negligence
of a third party company or it's employee or due to a defective or
dangerous product, then call a Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer for
a FREE CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION at
1-800-883-9858 or 1-800-468-4878.
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If you have been seriously injured while as a member
of the crew of a boat, jack-up rig, tug boat, barge or other marine
ship or vessel, then call us for a Free Confidential Consultation.
Talk to Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with over
20 years of experience. (Click Here)

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If I am injured on a ship, should I give a statement
to my employer ? When should I file a notice of injury report ? Under
the Jones Act, do I have the right to choose my own medical doctor ?
(Click Here)

What does maintenance and cure mean
under the Jones Act ? Under what circumstances can I recover pain & suffering
and loss wages under the Jones Act ? (Click
Here)

What
does it mean for a ship to be unseaworthy ? Under the Jones Act can part
of the ship or vessel be seaworthy and another part unseaworthy? (More)

Under the Jones Act and maritime law, what is the
deadline or Statute of Limitation to file a claim or lawsuit if I was
injured on a ship or vessel ? (More)

What if I am not a Jones Act seaman, but I was injured on a ship, vessel or an offshore oil rig or platform ? Does maritime law still apply ? Can I file a maritime claim or lawsuit to recover for my injuries? (More)

Can I file a Jones Act claim if my loved on has been diagnosed
with asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while
working on a ship or at the shipyard ? (More)
Does maritime law protect me if I was exposed to benzene and later I am
diagnosed with leukemia ? (More)

What if my spouse is killed while at sea? Does the Death
on the High Sea Act (DOHSA) apply to all deaths on ships vessels, helicopters,
and
ships on the high seas?
(More DOHSA info)

What are my legal rights if I have had a previous or old injury but now I have suffered a new injury to my back and neck and may need surgery but the Maritime Insurance company's adjuster says I am not covered and he will not approve it ? Yes, you are covered whether it is aggravation of a old injury or new one, if you were a Jones Act seaman injured on the vessel and the employer was at fault or negligent then you can file a Jones Act lawsuit for any type of injury such as heart attacks, strokes, head injury, brain damage, paralysis, burns, broken bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of an arm or leg, blindness and for emotional trauma or mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses and for loss wages or lost earnings in the past and future.
(Jones Act Lawsuit Damages) |
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NOTE: The statements and information provided on this web site are for the informational purposes only. This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and NO attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with David Willis or The Willis Law Firm. There will be NO lawsuits filed, claims made, letters or phone calls made for a prospective client, until that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written attorney client agreement, after the attorney has evaluated the background facts provided and has accepted the representation of the client's legal action.
Mr. Willis is a licensed attorney in New York and Texas. Principle office is Houston, Texas.
He is a Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Willis has represented clients in maritime personal injury, barge accidents, boating accidents, transports, crew boats, diving accidents, rig workers, injuries in river, lakes, canals, ICC, wrongful death lawsuits, oilfield accidents, oilrig accidents, tankers, shrimp boats, fishing vessels, tug boats, push boats, auto accident, explosions, crane accidents, rollover, asbestos, mesothelioma, sandblasters disease - silicosis, benzene solvents-aml leukemia, MDS, toxic chemical, lung cancer, 3rd party actions, electrical shock, fires, burns, explosions, helicopter crashes, tugboats, trucking accidents, third party lawsuits, and other product liability and negligence cases from across the United States, including clients from Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Virginia, Mexico, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia & Wyoming.
Further, any statement or reference to past personal injury, products liability lawsuits, settlements or verdicts should NOT be relied upon in one's own case or in your decision on which law firm to hire. All cases, facts, injuries, damages, venues and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. No attorney’s fees or case costs charged to client, unless a recovery is made for the client. Often in very serious and catastrophic maritime injury and offshore seaman injury cases Mr. Willis may associate with another attorney as co-counsel and in other matters, the case may be referred. In cases where a legal matter is referred, Mr. Willis will continue to maintain joint responsibility with the handling attorney or lead counsel and actively monitor the progress and development of the case |
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