The family of a woman who passed away from mesothelioma received $2 million after a jury deliberated for three days following a three-week trial.

Juanita Rodarmel of Bloomington, Illinois passed away after developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The case stated Rodarmel was exposed to the toxic mineral when she washed the clothing of her first husband, Leslie Corry, a former employee of Union Asbestos & Rubber Company.

Secondhand exposure to asbestos frequently occurred when workers who handled asbestos-containing materials unknowingly brought asbestos fibers into the home in their hair or on their clothing and skin. If the fibers were inhaled or ingested by the family members of the workers, they could become lodged in the body, causing inflammation and infection. Overtime, this can result in the development of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.

Rodarmel’s first husband was employed as an asbestos worker in the Bloomington plant of UNARCO Industries, Inc. in the 1950s. The lawsuit was filed against eight companies, including Union Asbestos & Rubber Company, UNARCO Industries, Inc., Pneumo Abex, LLC, Honeywell International, Inc., Johns-Manville, Raybestos-Manhatten, Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The case stated the companies conspired, along with manufacturers, to hide information about the hazards of asbestos exposure from employees. Along with the $2 million awarded to Rodarmel’s family, $100,000 in punitive damages against Pneumo Abex and $400,000 in punitive damages against Honeywell International were also awarded.

A mesothelioma diagnosis often occurs 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Like Rodarmel, mesothelioma patients typically take several decades to express symptoms of the cancer, allowing the illness to progress to later developmental stages before any treatment is typically administered.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A former high school wrestling coach passed away from mesothelioma at the age of 83, and is remembered as a coach who, according to a rival coach, “could teach you how to win.”

Bert Kraus was a guidance counselor and coached wrestling for 14 years at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, building an impressive winning record. He also officiated matches at the NCAA Division 1 Championships and earned honors by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.

Kraus died May 27, 2009 at his home in Frankfort, Michigan where he was retired and enjoyed playing golf regularly. Kraus passed away after a year-long battle with malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

Kraus was a co-founder of the Midlands Wrestling Championships, a nationally recognized tournament where college teams, clubs and individuals compete at the end of every year.

The event was organized by Kraus and Ken Kraft, a wrestling coach at Northwestern University. The two men launched the first tournament in 1963 at the YMCA in La Grange and it was an instant success. The next year, the tournament moved to a larger location and continues to draw top wrestlers annually.

Since the beginning of the tournament, 92 wrestlers who have competed in the tournament have later competed in the Olympics.

Kraus volunteered as the tournament director for many years and his family was actively involved as well, selling snacks and helping with additional tasks.

“He just had that special quality,” Kraft said of Kraus. “He worked so well with people.”

Dave Suchomel, who wrestled under Kraus’ guidance in the 1960s, remembers him as a coach who taught with clarity and precision, stating Kraus focused on technique and “stressed knowing where you were both in the match and on the mat to know what you needed to do to win.”

A service to honor Kraus will take place July 5, 2009 at 2 p.m. in La Grange.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Management at NBC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters warned employees May 3, 2009 that the presence of asbestos was found on the first floor of the building.

An e-mail sent to staffers stated, “Please be advised that we have discovered that glue on the back of baseboard material in the first floor across the back of the buildings has been found to contain asbestos.”

The e-mail noted there are plans to remove the contaminated baseboards as a safety precaution and a contractor was hired to handle the abatement process.

Asbestos is a toxic mineral known to cause serious health conditions such as malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually and prognosis is generally poor since the disease is often undetected until it has progressed to later stages of development.

NBC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters is home to NBC News, MSNBC and WRC-TV. Asbestos was found in the area where a new WRC newsroom is planned to be located. The contaminated area was formerly used by Chuck Todd, political director and chief White House correspondent for NBC News, Lisa Myers, senior investigative correspondent for NBC Nightly News, and the WRC sports crew. The location also served as the central newsroom, where thousands of interviews were conducted.

The e-mail stated that beginning May 5, the area would be sealed and negative air pressure created will “reduce the risk of any material becoming airborne.” Airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs and cavities, leading to inflammation or infection. Overtime this can result in the development of an asbestos-related illness.

According to the e-mail, the air quality outside the contaminated location will be monitored “to insure that there are no airborne fibers.”

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Scheduled updates to a high school in Minooka, Illinois will include the removal of asbestos found in the form of insulation around water pipes. Minooka High School’s central campus, located in northeastern Illinois, will undergo asbestos abatement this summer.

Asbestos, a toxic mineral commonly used in ceiling tiles, insulation and vinyl floor covering, was widely used in the construction of schools built prior to 1978. At the time, the dangers of asbestos were not well known and the mineral’s excellent insulating properties and innate resistance to heat made it ideal for use in the building of schools.

Exposure to asbestos can result in the development of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Though treatment options are available, a mesothelioma cure does not currently exist.

Other updates to Minooka High School include the addition of air conditioning and new roofing on some areas of the 38-year-old building. Once construction on air vents and piping commences, asbestos-contaminated materials will have to be removed.

MacTec, a consulting firm providing engineering, environmental and construction services to clients, will design a program to remove affected areas of the school’s central campus. The firm is charging $7,500 to the district for the removal process.

For more information on asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A new clinic in Naperville, Illinois will allow certain cancer patients to participate in an accelerated multidisciplinary medical approach to determine the course of treatment to best combat their specific disease.

The Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinic, opened by Edwards Cancer Center, allows patients to see a variety of experienced cancer specialists and complete necessary testing all in one visit. This unique approach can provide a patient with a course of treatment in one day, rather than the weeks or months it may take to coordinate a traditional treatment plan.

“The huge benefit to the patient is that we’re able to start treating the cancer in about two weeks,” Dr. Maria Quejada, medical oncologist with Edward Cancer Center stated. “It can take up to a month or longer to begin treatment if a patient has to visit multiple doctors and caregivers in multiple locations.”

Oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, social workers, clinical trials coordinators and coordinating nurses are available to develop a treatment plan to discuss with the patient on the same day they come to the clinic. New patients are seen by the physicians within a week of referral.

The clinic specifically treats patients with thoracic cancers, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Though a mesothelioma cure does not currently exist, many patients elect to undergo intensive treatment to contest the cancer.

“First and foremost, patients are getting the most advanced and highest quality cancer care available through Edward Cancer Center and the multidisciplinary team,” said Dr. David Cziperle, thoracic surgeon with Edward Hospital and Cardiac Surgery Associates, adding that patients “also have peace of mind when they leave with a treatment plan in hand. It’s one less worry during a very stressful time in their lives.”

For additional information about the Edward Cancer Center Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinic, call (630) 646-6119 or visit www.edward.org.

For more information on asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A man diagnosed with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos-related lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court in Illinois.

Raymond Hostert filed the lawsuit on July 23. Hostert says he was employed as a drill press operator, machine operator, truck driver and mechanic between 1952 and 1999 in several different locations throughout Illinois, and at some point was exposed to asbestos. He has filed suit against a total of 79 defendant companies, claiming his disease was wrongfully caused.

Among the 79 defendants are Bondex International, CBS, Chrysler, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Trust, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, International Paper, John Crane, MetLife, Monsanto, Pfizer, Philips Electronics and Trane US.

Raymond Hostert claims that at some point during his employment history, or during home or automotive repairs, he was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers being emitted by products he was working with or around. Inhalation of the fibers caused him to develop mesothelioma decades after the exposure.

According to Hostert’s lawsuit the defendants either knew or should have known of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. The suit claims that his exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants.

Raymond Hostert’s lawsuit also claims the defendants continued to use asbestos in their products even though adequate substitutes for asbestos were available and could be used. The lawsuit also claims that the defendants failed to provide warnings about asbestos exposure, or any instructions on how to work safely with their asbestos-containing products to prevent exposure from occurring.

As a result, Dennett alleges, he unknowingly continued to work with and around asbestos unaware he was being exposed to a dangerous substance, and without taking any safety precautions.

Due to the alleged negligence of the named defendants, Dennett claims he developed mesothelioma as a direct result of the asbestos exposure.

Dennett is seeking damages to help pay for medical expenses, as well as compensation for physical and mental pain and suffering, lost income, and lost earning capacity. He asks for at least $400,000 in compensatory damages. In addition his lawsuit seeks punitive damages to punish the defendants for “willful, wanton, intentional and reckless” behavior.

A New Jersey man with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos-related lawsuit in Madison County, Illinois. The lawsuit claims that he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April 2008, and that his disease was wrongfully caused.

The lawsuit was filed on July 17 in Madison County Circuit Court, and in it John Scarduzio claims that during the course of his employment as a plant manager and materials processor between 1949 and 2000, he was exposed to asbestos. In addition, he claims he may have been exposed while carrying out home and automotive repairs.

Scarduzio names a total of 75 defendant companies in the lawsuit, including Bondex International, CBS, Chrysler, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Trust, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, International Paper, John Crane, MetLife, Philips Electronics and Trane US.

According to the lawsuit filed by Scarduzio, his “exposure and inhalation, ingestion or absorption of the asbestos fibers was completely foreseeable and could or should have been anticipated by the defendants.”

Scarduzio claims that the named defendants either knew or should have known that the asbestos in their products could have a serious and potentially lethal effect on people who were exposed.

In addition, the lawsuit claims that the defendants continued to use asbestos in their products even though adequate substitutes for asbestos were available, and also that the companies failed to provide warnings about asbestos exposure, or any instructions on how to work safely with asbestos to prevent exposure from occurring.

As a result, Scarduzio alleges, he continued to work with and around asbestos without knowledge of the dangers he was exposed to, and without taking any safety precautions which could have prevented exposure.

Due to the alleged negligence of the named defendants, Scarduzio claims he was exposed to deadly asbestos fibers, and developed the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma as a direct result of that exposure.

Scarduzio is seeking damages to help pay for medical expenses, as well as compensation for physical and mental pain and suffering, lost income, and lost earning capacity. In addition the lawsuit is seeking punitive damages to punish the defendants for “willful, wanton, intentional and reckless” behavior.

Madison County, Illinois - The estate of Bernard Lichtenstien has filed an asbestos-related lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court, alleging that Lichtenstien’s death was caused by asbestos exposure.

The lawsuit, which contains two counts, was filed on June 30 and lists two companies as defendants. They are Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust (successor to Felt Products Manufacturing), and Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust (successor to the former Vellumoid Division of Federal-Mogul).

According to the complain, the Madison County venue is appropriate even though neither defendant does business in Illinois, because gasket-maker John Crane does business in that state.

The Lichtenstien estate claims that the deceased was exposed to asbestos during the course of his employment, and also during home and automotive repairs. Lichtenstien was employed as a laborer in several different locations between 1957 and 1978.

Lichtenstien’s estate claims the deceased was diagnosed with mesothelioma on June 1, 1998. He died November 10, 1999, and at the time of his death was residing in California.

According to the petition filed by Lichtenstien’s estate, the defendants either knew or should have known about the harmful consequences of asbestos exposure, and that exposure could cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma.

In addition, the suit alleges that the defendants used asbestos in their products despite the availability of acceptable substitutes. The suit also claims that the defendants failed to provide safety instructions or equipment for working with or around asbestos, and that the defendants failed to advise employees that asbestos fibers could potentially be transported home on work clothes.

Lichtenstien was exposed to asbestos as a result of the alleged negligence, the suit claims, and developed a form of asbestos cancer called mesothelioma as a direct result of the exposure.

After developing mesothelioma he suffered from great mental and physical pain, and was prevented from working. His estate is seeking damages of $100,000 or more to compensate for mental and physical pain, loss of income, and funeral expenses.

The family of a former Illinois man were disappointed this week after an sbestos lawsuit failed to provide them with the compensation they had hoped for. After a three-week trial, the jury decided in favor of the defendants.

The family of Robert C. Scott sued Honeywell International and Pneumo Abex, claiming that Scott had come into contact with asbestos-containing products manufactured by the companies during the course of his employment. Robert C. Scott worked for thirty years as a maintenance supervisor at Passavant Area Hospital, where the lawsuit claimed he was exposed to asbestos.

However, despite the family’s claims, the lawsuit was unsuccessful. The lawsuit which had asked for $1.5 million in damages was decided in favor of the defendants, and the family received no compensation for Robert C. Scott’s death.

Scott died from lung cancer, a disease which is known to be caused by asbestos exposure. However, since lung cancer can develop in response to other carcinogens—such as cigarette smoke—it can be difficult to pin down the exact cause in a case where asbestos is a risk factor.

In this case, the issue was confused by the fact that Scott had once been a heavy smoker, although he had quit a few years before his death in 2004.

The central issue in the trial itself, therefore, was whether Robert C. Scott’s lung cancer was a result of cigarette smoking only, or could have developed due to a combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos.

According to testimony given during the trial, Scott had never been diagnosed with asbestosis or any other lung diseases known to be caused by asbestos. In addition, tissue samples which had been taken and analyzed after Scott’s death showed no signs that he had developed asbestosis.

People with asbestosis develop obvious lung disease: the asbestos exposure causes the development of scar tissue known as pleural plaques, due to the chronic irritation and inflammation which asbestos causes.

Without this characteristic symptom of asbestos exposure evident in the samples from Scott’s lungs, the jury found it impossible to say that his lung cancer had even partially been caused by exposure to asbestos.

Joliet, Illinois -  A full day after state health officials shut down a section of the Marycrest Shopping Center in Joliet, Illinois, some businesses were still operating in the center, unaware of the possible asbestos dangers.

One business was ordered not to open due to the possible asbestos threat, but stores on either side were not told of the danger and were allowed to remain open.

Marycrest Shopping center is made up of multiple buildings each with its own ventilation system, and all stores in one of the buildings were supposed to be ordered closed, while stores in other separate buildings could remain open.

However, it was subsequently discovered that many of those businesses were supposed to be ordered shut, but had not received the order due to an oversight.

A section of the Maycrest Shopping Center in Joliet, Illinois was closed after state health officials became concerned about the possibility of asbestos exposure. Officials ordered that work on the now-closed section of the shopping mall be stopped on Wednesday June 4, as they believed flooring was being removed without proper safety precautions being taken.

The shopping center was built in the 1950s, is now half empty, and is undergoing renovations. However, this week sees the second time that officials have ordered that renovations be stopped due to concerns over possible asbestos exposure, said Joliet director of inspectional services David Mackley.

Mackley said that a state inspector called health authorities to the renovation site on Wednesday after the inspector noticed that work had been carried out in an office area which was known to contain asbestos.

Site inspectors subsequently ordered that the work be stopped, as they believed the tiles which were being removed were of a kind that was glued to floors with an asbestos-containing adhesive. Tests carried out by the Illinois Department of Public Health subsequently showed that asbestos was in fact present in the adhesive.

An Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson said the owners of Maycrest will be required to hire contractors who are licensed to handle asbestos. Another health department spokesperson, Melaney Arnold, said the law would require an inspection to be carried out before work could start.

Whether or not those in the stores which were supposed to be closed were exposed to asbestos won’t be known for some time, possibly decades, as asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancers have long latency periods.