Mesothelioma: A Preventable Tragedy That Still Demands Justice

For the past 35 plus years, I have represented people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Many clients have become my friends, and it is devastating to see this horrible disease ravage them and hurt their families. It is upsetting to know that this disease will be with us for many years. This predicament is the product of many years of callous conduct by industries that put profit before people.

Mesothelioma Is Still Being Diagnosed Today — And It’s Always Preventable

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos — a toxic mineral once widely used in construction materials, insulation, shipbuilding, and industrial products.

What makes mesothelioma especially tragic is that it often takes 20 to 50 years to develop after exposure. That means many people are being diagnosed today because of asbestos exposure that occurred decades ago — often while simply doing their jobs.

According to a 2024 report from the American Cancer Society, over 3,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with mesothelioma, and the prognosis remains poor. The five-year survival rate is approximately 12%, although new treatments are helping some patients live longer and with better quality of life.

Recent Advances in Mesothelioma Research

There is reason for hope. In the past two years, several promising treatments have emerged:

• Immunotherapy drugs like nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) have shown success in clinical trials.

• Tumor Treating Fields (TTF), a wearable device that disrupts cancer cell division, has been approved for pleural mesothelioma in combination with chemotherapy.

• Gene therapy and personalized medicine approaches are under study and may offer new options for patients who don't respond to conventional treatments.

These advancements are important — but none of them erase the reality that mesothelioma should never have happened in the first place.

The Industry Knew — and Chose Profits Over People

For decades, asbestos companies and manufacturers knew that exposure to asbestos dust could cause fatal diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Internal documents dating back to the 1930s show that some companies actively concealed this information from workers, consumers, and the public.

Many of the clients I've represented were exposed on job sites with no warning and no protection. Some were U.S. veterans who worked in shipyards or around asbestos-laden equipment. Others were union workers in factories, steel mills, refineries, and power plants.

The suffering they and their families have endured was not inevitable — it was caused by corporations that valued profits over human lives.

What Legal Action Can Do for You and Your Family

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a legal claim or access compensation through established asbestos trust funds. These funds — now totaling over $30 billion — were set aside by bankrupt asbestos companies to pay victims.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help:

• Identify where and when you were exposed to asbestos

• Determine which companies are liable

• File claims efficiently while you focus on treatment

• Pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more

Legal consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

You Are Not Alone

After 35 years of representing mesothelioma clients, I’ve learned that the legal process can provide more than just financial relief — it can offer accountability, closure, and dignity.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, I invite you to reach out. You’ll receive personal attention, clear guidance, and strong legal advocacy every step of the way.