Mesothelioma Cancer News provides news and information for Philadelphia asbestos attorneys.

Philadelphia (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – The chairs for the “Asbestos Insurance Litigation Conference” in Philadelphia have been announced. As reported on RedOrbit.com via PRNewswire, Tom Hagy, CEO of HB Litigation Conferences announced Monday that Philip Hecht of K&L Gates and Harry Lee of Steptoe & Johnson have been named chairs for the event.

Hagy is quoted in the report as stating of the attorneys, “Hecht and Lee bring to the program decades of experience handling insurance coverage matters where the underlying claims involve not only asbestos injuries and damage, but other long-term injury and property damage claims such as general toxic torts and environmental contamination.”

As noted in the press release, the conference will be held at The Hub Cira Centre at 30th Street Station on April 21, 2010. More information about the conference may be found by visiting www.LitigationConferences.com.

Australia (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – A union has found that liquefied natural gas project workers were exposed to dangerous asbestos levels. As reported by AAP, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) state secretary Steve McCartney recently alleged the lives of the workers have been placed at risk due to Woodside’s Pluto’s monitoring failures, following testing that verified exposure to eight workers.

McCartney is quoted in the report as stating of the issue during a recent radio interview, “Really, the question has got to be posed to Woodside about their duty of care… It’s bad enough that they’re importing all these modules and potentially reducing the nation’s skills base but when they bring them in here and they start to impact on the life expectancy of their workers, then it is a real problem.”

U.S. (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – New research suggests a vaccine being tested for the prevention of mesothelioma is safe. As reported by HealthDay News, the research is the first dendritic cell-based immunotherapy tested for patients with the asbestos-related cancer.

Dr. Joachim Aerts, a pulmonary physician at Erasmus Medical Center and author of the study, is quoted in the report as stating of the findings in a news release, “The possibility to harness the potency and specificity of the immune system underlies the growing interest in cancer immunotherapy… One such approach uses the patient’s own [dendritic cells] to present tumor-associated antigens and thereby generate tumor-specific immunity.”

More information about the study may be available in the March 4 online publication of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Washington (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – Montana Senator Max Baucus is calling for the implementation of an “Asbestos Awareness Week.” As reported by KAJ18 News, the Senator recently introduced a declaration that would make the week designated for the beginning of April. The resolution is reportedly the fourth Baucus has introduced pertaining to the issue.

As noted in the report, an estimated 300 people died and hundreds of others were sickened by widespread asbestos contamination from operations of W.R. Grace in Libby, Montana.

Baucus is quoted in the report as stating of the matter, “There are too many good folks still suffering from asbestos-related disease and contamination in Montana and across the United States… Asbestos Awareness Week provides a perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and the need to keep fighting for the victims of asbestos-related disease.”

Australia (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – An Australia High Court is disputing claims that the death of a long-time smoker was caused by asbestos. As reported by News.com.au, the court ruled the long-time smoking habit of Paul Cotton was a more likely cause of his development of terminal cancer, which released the former employers of Cotton from liability in having to pay compensation for related damages. Cotton reportedly smoked for 26 years.

The High Court judges are quoted in the report as stating in the ruling, “Second, the risks and probabilities associated with asbestos, whether alone or in conjunction with smoking, are low and not sufficient to found the inference which the plaintiff sought to have made: that it is more probable than not that exposure to respirable asbestos fibres was a cause of Mr. Cotton’s cancer.”

Hartford, Conn. (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – Officials at a Connecticut university may have allegedly been in violation of federal law during the disposal of asbestos. As reported by UPI, an investigation has begun into the actions of employees at the University of Connecticut who disposed of materials containing asbestos while renovating an office and possibly violated OSHA and federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for asbestos removal.

Spokesman Michael Kirk is quoted in the report as stating of the matter, “The safety and well-being of university personnel is a paramount concern. As a result of the university’s own investigation, its office of Environmental Health and Safety is working with facilities personnel to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations regarding asbestos.”

As noted in the report, alleged violations include unsafe asbestos particle disposal and the occurrence of asbestos disturbance without proper employee oversight.

U.K. (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – An inquest has found that an electrician who took part in the building of a power station died due to asbestos contamination there. As reported by Gazette Series, Gerald Brown, who worked at the building site of the Berkeley Nuclear Power Station from 1959 to 1962, was stated to have died of an industrial disease after the inquest into his death.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore is quoted in the report as stating of Brown’s work history and inquest findings, “He had consulted solicitors during his life and made a statement about the exposure which all workers at the power station were exposed to… There was no knowledge at that time of the potential dangers of exposure and the high count of fibres in his lungs is a significant result.”

Buffalo (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – Tests have reportedly shown that the Northwest District police station does not contain dangerous levels of asbestos or mold. As reported by The Buffalo News, more tests from air samples taken from the station are set to be completed next week.

Mayor Byron W. Brown is quoted in the report as stating of the testing during a news conference Tuesday, “We take the health and safety of our employees very seriously, and we have retained another consultant to go through that building with a fine tooth comb.” The station was reportedly closed on Friday as an additional safety measure.

Brown is further stated in the report to note that additional measures will be undertaken if necessary, and the building will be reopened when it is confirmed that it is safe.

U.K. (Mesothelioma Cancer News) – The Homes and Communities Agency has reportedly reached a settlement with a plumber who sought damages for his asbesots related illness. As reported by Inside Housing, 80 year-old Albert Heaps, who worked for English Partnerships for 15 years, alleged in his complaint that he was exposed to asbestos while carrying out duties related to his job during the course of his employement.

A spokesperson for the HCA is quoted in the report as stating of the settlement, “Without any admission of liabilty, the HCA took a commercial and case specific decision to settle, on a provisional basis, a claimant’s claim for pleural thickening allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos dust while allegedly employed with the former Stevenage Development Corporation between 1966 and 1981… This settlement was embodied in an order for the court’s approval which was filed with the court by the claimant’s legal representatives on 8 February 2010. As a consequence, a trial which was listed for hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on 18 February 2010 will not take place.”

(Mesothelioma Cancer News) – Students in a New York area college were reportedly forced to leave their dorm rooms due to concerns about asbestos. As reported by The Spectator, 11 students at the Hamilton College Bundy East and West Residence Halls were moved to new rooms until the end of the semester due to possible asbestos contamination in the ceiling.

Steve Bellona, associate vice president for facilities and planning, is quoted in the report as stating of the need for the move, “Due to the nature of the work in the room, we would need to pack up and remove all the personal items and furniture in the room to complete the stabilization effort in each of these rooms… In reviewing this work effort along with the other stabilization effort in the West Bundy second floor south hallway, we determined that we did not have enough time over the spring break to accomplish both the hallway work and the room stabilization prior to the end of spring break.”