New York Personal Injury Laws

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

How is mesothelioma diagnosed? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City and I can tell you that there’s generally two ways that physicians – doctors – diagnose mesothelioma.

Clinical Diagnosis

The first way of diagnosing mesothelioma is a clinical diagnosis. That means that a doctor is evaluating a patient’s presenting symptoms to draw a picture as to what this patient could be suffering from. So the things that are evaluated are things like shortness of breath. Often with mesothelioma victims fluid builds up – it’s called a pleural effusion – but it’s basically just a build up of fluid between the bony rib cage and the lungs and when the fluid builds up it pushes on both the ribs and the lungs. The ribs don’t move, they’re made of bone, so it pushes in and impacts the lungs, makes it harder for the patient to breathe. Shortness of breath is a known symptom of mesothelioma. General fatigue and weakness, weight loss – substantial weight loss, unexplained, in a short period of time – is another factor, another symptom that physicians will use to clinically diagnose or be suspicious of mesothelioma.

Definitive Diagnosis

For mesothelioma victims, the definitive diagnosis comes in the form of a biopsy, and for pleural mesothelioma it’s a biopsy of the pleura. The pleura is the lining on the outside of the lung sometimes referred to as a saran wrap like substance that lines the exterior – the outside – of the lung and doctors will take a biopsy of that surface to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. And how is that biopsy taken? Well, it’s usually taken through a surgical technique and I’d say the most common one would be a video-assisted thoracostomy sometimes known as a vat, V-A-T, a video-assisted thoracostomy. The doctors go in with several instruments, one of which has a camera on it, and the surgeon – the doctor – can visualize the area in the chest where the mesothelioma could be, and with other instruments – and again this is a minimally invasive technique – the physicians can take a biopsy, a piece of flesh.

That biopsy material is then taken and sent to a pathology lab within the hospital. And the pathologist, they’re a specialized doctor who deals with diagnosing disease from looking at a slide. The flesh is put onto a slide and for mesothelioma victims the slides are often stained in certain ways so that different cell types can be visualized when the pathologist looks under a microscope at the slide. That pathologist then writes out a report – it’s called a pathology report – and the pathology report is a very important piece of paper that becomes part of that patient’s medical case because it definitively diagnoses their disease, and it becomes a very important part of their legal case because it definitively diagnoses them as having been a victim of pleural mesothelioma.

I’m sure you have many other questions about how mesothelioma is diagnosed. I’m Joe Williams, and at our firm we handle cases every day for mesothelioma victims. This is what we do every day and we can answer your questions. I encourage you to call our office at the number below and we’d be happy to answer your questions. Thank you.

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

World Trade Center Builders Exposed to Asbestos

Did you know that dry wall installers at the World Trade Center site were exposed to asbestos?

Hi, I’m Joe Williams, I’m a Mesothelioma trial attorney, and I can answer some question that you might have about Mesothelioma exposures at the World Trade Center site.

Now, the World Trade Center, composed of seven different buildings, was the most massive construction project of its time when it was building, staring in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. And the internal walls of what was primarily office buildings were built with sheetrock. So we’re talking about massive quantities of sheetrock that was installed at the World Trade Center site by Union Drywall installers.

 Different Exposures of Asbestos

Now, when these boards of sheetrock were put up, in between the seams of each of the boards at the entire site, joint compound was installed. And it was either in a dry mix, it was mixed with water, or it was already premixed and came out of a bucket. But either way it was put between the seams wet, allowed to dry, and then sanded down. And usually tradesmen did two or three coats of this, sanding it down between each coat. And that happened throughout the entire site.

 Asbestos Products Banned

Now why is that important? It’s important because up until 1977 most joint compound continued asbestos. In 1977 the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in joint compound. But before that time and during the construction of the World Trade Center, that joint compound had asbestos in it. It exposed all of these Union Drywall workers and other tradesmen who worked in the area to large quantities of breathable asbestos dust.

Now, you have Mesothelioma and you have questions about asbestos exposure, especially exposure that could have happened at the World Trade Center site. I’m Joe Williams and our law firm we handle cases for victims of Mesothelioma and their families every single day. I invite you to give us a call and we will be very happy to answer your questions. Thank you.

Plasterers Exposed to Asbestos

You spent a career as a plasterer. Now you’ve been diagnosed with Mesothelioma and you’re wondering how it is that you got this terrible disease.

Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a Mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City, and I certainly can answer these questions for you.

How Plasterers Became Exposed to Asbestos

We know that plasterers dealt with plaster every day of their working career. And back in the ‘50s and ‘60s and before that time interior structural walls in commercial building, and in residential as well, were made with plaster. And that means, as you know, that wire lath was installed within the wall and the plaster was a dry mixed product, mixed with water and applied to the lath and allowed to dry, then sanded down. And the amount of dust created from that sanding was tremendous in the workspace of every worker on that job site. And we know that many of these plaster products back in that timeframe contained asbestos.

Sometime in the ‘60s some of the building materials changed and we went from plaster walls to sheetrock walls. And that’s of course what’s in use today. The sheetrock nailed or screwed—used to be nailed, now they’re screwed to the studs, and they used to be wood studs now they’re mostly metal studs, between the seams of the sheetrock a product called joint compound was used to seal and smooth the walls in those areas. And also for all of the nail or screw holes where the sheetrock was attacked to the studs. And the joint compound on large construction sites was usually a dry product that was mixed with water and applied to the seams of the sheetrock and to the screw or nail holes. Additionally, that joint compound came in a premixed compound which was in a bucket or a can and it was already wet and it was applied to the wall in the same way on the seams of the sheetrock or on the screw or nail holes. And whether it started wet or dry, eventually it was made wet and put on the walls and allowed to dry. And once it dried it had to be sanded smooth. And multiple coats of this process was done and sanded down, all creating a lot of asbestos dust that plasterers and workers breathed.

So these are many of the ways that a plasterer would have been exposed to asbestos dust on a work site. Now, I’m sure you have many other questions about your work and how it could have caused you to be exposed to asbestos. Well, we have the answers. I’m Joe Williams. I invite you to call my office at the number below and we can discuss your case and the way you were exposed to asbestos.

We handle Mesothelioma cases every day. We represent the victims of asbestos exposure each and every day and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. Thank you.

Plumbers Exposed to Asbestos

Did you know that plumbers were exposed to asbestos during the construction of the World Trade Center? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney here in New York City, and I can give you some information about the types of exposures to asbestos that plumbers faced during the construction of the World Trade Center site.

Large Quantities of Exposure

The World Trade Center site, composed of seven different buildings, was a massive construction project, and the plumbers union had a very large presence during the building of the seven buildings. The buildings at this site required massive quantities of water, hot water and cold water piping running throughout the site. The plumbers’ work at the World Trade Center site exposed them to asbestos in the form of asbestos pipe covering, asbestos gaskets, asbestos insulation that covered the equipment that the plumbers worked with on a daily basis at the World Trade Center site. In addition to their own work, the plumbers who worked at the World Trade Center site could have also been exposed to the work of other trades – trades who are working with asbestos-containing floor tile, or asbestos-containing joint compound, or asbestos-containing fireproofing – exposed as bystanders to the work of others.

You have questions about mesothelioma and exposures to asbestos at the World Trade Center. I’m Joe Williams, and at our firm we handle cases everyday for mesothelioma victims and their families. I invite you to give our office a call. We can answer your questions. Thank you.

Shipyard Workers Exposed to Asbestos

You worked in shipyards, and now you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and you’re wondering what caused your mesothelioma. Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney here in New York City, and I can answer your questions. We know that shipyards were filled with asbestos. Shipyards such as here in New York are good examples– the Brooklyn Naval Yard. The Brooklyn Naval Yard, that’s where the ships were built during World War II and thereafter, and they were worked on, serviced, built from the ground up, as well, in that yard. There’s also private shipyards that are not naval yards, where non-naval ships were worked on, both built, constructed, maintained, and repaired. Whether it was the building of a new ship, or the repairing of an existing one, the work was the same, and it involved working with asbestos products, such as insulation, insulation on steam pipes, insulation on equipment such as large boilers on these ships, asbestos blankets, which were put on turbines on these ships. Asbestos gaskets were cut and fabricated at these shipyards to use on these pipes, on the steam pipes, on the hot water pipes on these ships, and that’s something that happened often, almost every day, at a shipyard. Bags of asbestos cement, high temperature asbestos cement, as well, would be used and mixed with water, and applied to the piping, the equipment, and the machinery on these ships, and at these shipyards. So, there are a multitude of exposures to asbestos that a shipyard worker would have. I’m sure you have more questions about how shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos. Well, we can answer those questions. I’m Joe Williams. I invite you to call the number below. We’ll answer your questions. We help mesothelioma victims every day. We’ll answer your questions. Thank you for watching.

Mesothelioma Trust Fund

Asbestos companies that have filed for bankruptcy protection have been required by the courts to put in excess of $30 billion in trust for future mesothelioma victims, but how can you make a claim? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City and I can give you some information about the process of making a claim to these asbestos bankruptcy trusts.

 Making A Claim on the Trust Fund

The first thing that we need to know is that each of the trusts has a plan, a system of rules and regulations, that have to be filed in order to make the claim, but all trusts require proof of asbestos exposure. Proof of exposure to that particular product that that particular company made before they filed for bankruptcy protection. And that proof can come in a few forms. It can come in the form of a deposition of our client, or a deposition transcript of a co-worker. It can come from work records. Records of the client’s work at a particular site or location where that product was used. It can come from military records. Perhaps our client served on a specific military ship and that product was used on that ship. It can also come in the form of signed affidavits.

 Proof of Mesothelioma

The next thing we have to prove to the trust in order to make a claim is proof of a specific asbestos disease. We have to prove to the trust that our client has mesothelioma. And how do we do that? Through medical records, through a pathology report, perhaps through CT scans or PET scans that show the level and extent of disease.

And another thing that we have to prove is what’s called causation – a link between the asbestos exposure to that particular product and the disease, in this circumstance mesothelioma. And we do that through a report from an expert – from a doctor – who looks at the medical records and gives an opinion as to whether the exposure evidence regarding a particular product caused this particular disease. It’s important to know that these claims are usually made electronically and all this information is uploaded to different trusts electronically.

Now, you have questions about the claims process as it relates to mesothelioma victims and the asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Well, I’m Joe Williams, at our firm we handle these claims every day and I invite you to give us a call. We can answer your questions. Thank you.

Iron Workers at the World Trade Center

Did you know that iron workers that worked at the World Trade Center during its construction were exposed to asbestos? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney based in New York City and I could give you information about how iron workers were exposed to asbestos at the World Trade Center site during its construction.

 How Did They Get Exposed to Asbestos

Iron workers installed the steel eye beams that formed the metal framework of the buildings that composed the World Trade Center site. Those same steel beams were sprayed with asbestos-containing fireproofing spray. This fireproofing came in dry powder form. It was mixed with water and put into a gun and sprayed on the metal beams. The iron workers were nearby when that was happening – when the fireproofing was being sprayed into the air. That same fireproofing dried onto those beams. And iron workers, it would also be part of their duty to come back and with the overhead beams to install metal hangers onto them so that a drop ceiling could later be installed. Well, to install those metal hangers they had to scrape off that dry fireproofing causing asbestos dust which they breathe again.

Also iron workers, sometimes ornamental iron workers, did what’s called finishing work – things like railings throughout the World Trade Center – when other trades were doing their work. Work such as putting up sheetrock walls, or putting in floor tiles. These building materials contained asbestos. Now while the iron workers were doing their work the work of the other trades were exposing them to asbestos. Iron workers were exposed to asbestos dust in great quantities at the World Trade Center site during its construction.

Now you have mesothelioma and you have questions about asbestos exposure and about the World Trade Center site. I’m Joe Williams and at our firm we handle cases from mesothelioma victims and their families every day. I invite you to give us a call and we will answer your questions. Thank you.

Representing Railroad Employees And Passengers

I handle serious personal injury cases for both employees and passengers. The railroad industry is a very dangerous place and the laws are quite complex that apply to those cases. It’s important that  you’re represented by an attorney