New York Personal Injury Laws

Co-Workers Giving Evidence on Past Exposure to Asbestos

A person’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma. What would we do to try and develop the evidence of how they were exposed to asbestos? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City. And I can tell you that one of the main things that we try to do when our clients are really too ill to testify or just are suffering through their diagnosis, is that we contact their co-workers.

What’s important to know about this is that when workers work in industry, they work side by side, sometimes for 30, 40 years with friends who almost become family members. We contact those folks and talk to them about the exposures that our client had. These co-workers can provide tremendous information about the types of exposures, the manner of exposure, and how it happened, where it happened. And often times, the co-worker isn’t ill, hasn’t contracted mesothelioma as of yet, and they are able to recount the stories and the history of how the work was done, and what was done, and where it was done.

These co-workers can be deposed. They can be produced at a deposition and they can talk about all the ways that our client was exposed to asbestos dust from various products and at various locations. And importantly, one co-worker can lead to more co-workers. The pursuit of co-workers and finding witnesses to the exposure to asbestos is a very important part of a thorough work up of a mesothelioma case. Now, I’m sure you have many more questions as to how we work up a mesothelioma case, and we can answer your questions. I encourage you to call my office at the number below. I’m Joe Williams. We’d be happy to answer your questions for you. Thank you.

Injured in a Motor Accident

Sometimes even a minor car or biking accident can result in severe long term injuries that can be costly. If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, don’t go it alone. The legal team at Wilson Law has successfully resolved claims for severely injured individuals, by either negotiating with the insurance company or going to court. Don’t get overwhelmed. See the attorneys at Wilson Law for a free consultation. We’ll even come to you.

At Wilson Law we’re standing up to them and standing up for you.

Properties of Asbestos

Your family member’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma. You know now that asbestos causes mesothelioma. It’s important to learn something about the properties of asbestos. Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City and I can give you some information about the properties of asbestos.

Navy Machinist Mate Exposed to Asbestos

You are a machinist mate in the United States Navy, and you served our country, and all these years later you’ve now been diagnosed with mesothelioma. And you want to know how did I get this disease? Hi. I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney, and I want to talk to you about the types of exposures to asbestos, that navy seamen and machinist mates encounter when they worked on navy ships.

I want to do that by talking about a former client of mine, and he actually was a machinist mate on a aircraft carrier. His work took place primarily in the boiler room. You probably know it as the fire room. He worked on all the equipment in the boiler room.

The boiler itself, as well as the pumps that pumped hot water and different fuels and oils for different uses throughout the ship. He dealt with all the systems for propulsion of the ship. And his work with the boiler involve dealing with the asbestos installation that was on this large marine boiler.

There was actually two of them on the ship. And he dealt with the asbestos installation, removing it, reinstalling it after his work. He dealt with asbestos gaskets as it related to the boiler. He dealt with the pumps that were throughout the boiler room and really throughout the ship, in particular the large boiler feed pumps.

He dealt with packing and gaskets that were made of asbestos, as well as insulation that was on the piping and on the pumps. He dealt with valves that were placed throughout the ships, and he also dealt with other equipment in the boiler room and throughout the ship.

The work that he did with asbestos products that included installation, gaskets, and packing, all of these exposures contributed to him developing mesothelioma many decades later. And his doctors informed him that it was those exposures to asbestos when he was in the navy years and years ago, that all these years later, only just a few years ago, caused him to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

And that’s what’s expected with mesothelioma. The exposures happen, and then 20 to up to 60 years later the patient’s diagnosed with this cancer, mesothelioma. A cancer caused by asbestos. Now, you have questions about mesothelioma, and about the types of exposures that US Navy servicemen faced when they served our country on US Naval vessels.

I’m Joe Williams. At our office we handle cases for victims of mesothelioma and for their families every day. We deal with these issues on a daily basis. Call our office, we’ll answer your questions. Thank you.

Protecting Your Rights

When you’re injured on the railroad, the railroad will do everything they can to minimize your wage loss claim. They’ll try to interfere with your medical treatment. They’ll harass you. They may fail to offer you overtime you’re entitled to receive under the contract. They can penalize you in many different ways but the Federal Railroad Safety Act says they can’t do that to you as an interstate railroad employee. You can file a claim with OSHA and if OSHA doesn’t decide the claim within seven months, you can bring a lawsuit in the federal district court. At the Maurer Law Firm, we know how to protect your rights under the Federal Railroad Safety Act.

Increase in Children with Autism

Today on You Be The Judge. The percentage of children with autism has skyrocketed during the past 30 years. Some people blame vaccinations, others say it only seems like autism has increased because we’re more aware of it.

Are Common Drugs Causing Autism

Imagine that you were taking drug X, then imagine that scientist have become curious about the effects of drug X on human health and behavior. They conduct extensive testing on lab animals, and conclude that there seems to be a direct link between the drug and harmful conditions found in a specific segment of the animal population. For instance, pregnant rates.

Next, imagine that you fit into that specific human population segment, and are possibly susceptible to the highly increased risk of the negative effects seen in animals caused by drug X.

Then imagine that there are known alternatives to drug X such as exercise, that have been found to be beneficial and possibly even more beneficial than the drug.

Finally, imagine that studies have shown that a placebo is just as effective as the drug X that you have been taking. How does all of this make you feel about drug X?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSIRs) Effect on Pregnancy

Now let’s take a look at a real life scenario that goes on today. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSIRs, are often found in antidepressants. These antidepressants are believed to affect serotonin.

Now, in a developing embryo, serotonin plays a critical role in the brain’s development, and many believe that autism is characterized by changes in the serotonin system. Therefore it seemed reasonable that taking these antidepressants during pregnancy might affect developing baby’s brain formation. Regarding these antidepressants, Doctor said, “It really shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise, given that numerous animals studies have shown that exposure during development leads to changes in the brain and changes in behavior. Changes that often mimic autism.”

Studies Connecting Autism to Antidepressants

Authors of the mentioned animal studies warned that their findings of harmful effects should concern us when using these drugs on humans. Only two studies have been completed on the links between autism and antidepressants in humans.

The first study, a smaller one, published in 2011, found that children whose mothers took antidepressants are twice as likely to have autism. A study recently published in the British Medical Journal surveyed a much larger group, and it found that the use of antidepressants was associated with a risk of autism three times that of women not taking those drugs. The authors of these studies were cautious with their words as no one has conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial, RCT.

An RCT can most accurately assess causation. Now to conduct an RCT, pregnant would be required to take antidepressants in order for researchers to evaluate the effects on their babies. However, ethical issues have discouraged studying the negative effects of antidepressants during pregnancy. It’s fair to note that an RCT is not always necessary to presume that a problem exist.

For example, no Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted on cigarettes, yet nearly everyone acknowledges that they cause harm. Regarding pregnant women taking antidepressants, the latest studies suggest that non-drug approaches such as psychotherapy or exercise may serve the mother just as well, or perhaps even better than the antidepressant.

Finally, after years of research, there is little evidence that suggest that the antidepressants are clinically more effective than a placebo. Do you think there is something to be concerned about here? Should doctors recommend other treatments instead of antidepressants for pregnant women suffering from depression?

By: Edward Lake

Railroad Retirement Benefits

If you’re disabled and worked long enough for the railroad, you may be entitled to benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board. Applying for railroad retirement disability benefits can be difficult, long, and drawn out but it doesn’t have to be.

Disability Benefits Law FIrm

At Insler & Hermann, we navigate the process for you. We make it as easy as possible for you and your family. Call us today. The sooner you meet with us, the sooner we can help you receive the benefits you deserve. We don’t get paid unless you win. Be our next success story.

By: Lew Insler

Talcum Powder Usage Can Cause Harm

What you’re about to hear may seem unbelievable. We need to get the word out so we can protect our women today and our children tomorrow from this dangerous product. Ovarian Cancer, the eighth most common cancer in the U.S., and the fifth leading cause of Cancer death. Each year, nearly 20,000 women in the U.S. get Ovarian Cancer.

A common everyday product is estimated to contribute to approximately 10% of Ovarian cases each year. 40% of us women are estimated to use this product. People might say, “Everybody everywhere uses this product. How can it be connected to Ovarian Cancer?” The label carries no warning. No one would expect this product to have such a severe side effect. People consider it so harmless, they use it on their children. Manufacturers are not likely to warn consumers unless they are forced to by the government.

By: Steven Gacovino

Asbestos Exposure in Nassau County

You’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and you worked in Nassau County, New York, and you’re wondering, “How did I get this disease?”. Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney here in New York, and I can give you some information about asbestos exposures in Nassau County. We know that in Nassau County, LILCO – now it’s known as National Grid – had a powerhouse in Roslyn. We know that at these types of powerhouses, asbestos components were used by the workers during the construction of the powerhouse, and also during the repair and renovation work that’s done on an ongoing basis at a powerhouse like the one that existed in Roslyn, New York. We also know that in Nassau County, the population moved eastward from the city and the boroughs into Nassau and Suffolk Counties. And as that happened, there was a housing boom, and homes – residential homes – apartment buildings were built by union tradesmen, by workers, building Nassau County with their hands. When they did that, they used all manner of building materials, many of which, contained asbestos. The joint compound and sheetrock used to build walls in houses, the floor tile on the floors, the roofs of these homes, and other components as well, exposed these workers to asbestos dust.

Now, you have questions about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. I’m Joe Williams, and at our firm, we help mesothelioma victims and their families every day. I invite you to give us a call and we’ll answer your questions. Thanks.