NY Mesothelioma Attorney Calls for Ban on Exporting Asbestos to Third-World Nations
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 09, 2011
The Canadian Parliament’s debate this week over exporting asbestos to developing countries highlights the importance of stopping asbestos shipping everywhere, New York mesothelioma lawyer Joseph W. Belluck says.
Heated debates over the dangers of asbestos have continued to plague the Canadian government as officials wrestle over whether to ban the use and export of asbestos to developing countries, according to an article in the Huffington Post.
Canada’s New Democrats Party has consistently pushed to ban asbestos shipping and to add chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention’s list of hazardous chemicals, the Post said. Joining the convention would require that Canada forewarn importing countries about the dangers posed by the substance and give countries the right to refuse it.
“Informing other countries about the health hazards of asbestos is crucial,” said Belluck, whose New York personal injury law firm, Belluck & Fox, LLP, represents clients who have contracted deadly asbestos-related diseases after being exposed to the substance.
“Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and thousands of people die worldwide as a result of inhaling it each year,” Belluck said.
Asbestos-related diseases typically affect people who have been exposed to the substance in occupational settings. The conditions include:
Mesothelioma – A rare but aggressive form of cancer that is found in the thin layer of membranes surrounding the internal organs. To date, asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
Lung cancer – Characterized by malignant tumors in the lungs, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asbestos is recognized as one cause of lung cancer.
Asbestosis – Inhaling asbestos causes scarring in the lungs, which prevents normal breathing. Asbestosis is a progressive disease that cannot be cured.
“People suffer terribly from asbestos, and the entire European Union has banned it,” said Belluck, who has extensive experience handling mesothelioma lawsuits for victims and their families. “But unfortunately, it’s not the same closer to home. Even the U.S. continues to send asbestos overseas.”
Although the U.S. does not actively mine for asbestos anymore, it does send asbestos-containing products – such as retired naval ships – for destruction in India and Asian countries, according to the Ban Asbestos Network.
Opponents to a ban contend that asbestos – particularly chrysotile asbestos – can be used safely under controlled conditions. But every single health and safety agency, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and World Health Organization, disagree.
Legal claims have been a driving force behind a complete asbestos ban, Belluck noted.
In recent years, lawsuits have been filed across the U.S. related to mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Juries have awarded millions of dollars in damages to mesothelioma victims, in New York and nationwide.
“The courts are recognizing that companies consistently failed to warn former employees of the hazards of working around asbestos and are awarding compensation to sufferers for what they have lost,” said Belluck. “And those losses are tremendous – people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma generally only have 12 months to live.”
Belluck has encouraged people who were exposed to asbestos years or even decades ago to contact an attorney if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
“A lawyer can evaluate a mesothelioma claim and offer advice about whether a lawsuit is appropriate,” Belluck said. “Although it is difficult to quantify a human life in dollars, compensation can help families prepare for whatever lies ahead.”
About Belluck & Fox
Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $ 400 million in compensation for clients and their families.
Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $ 12 million.
Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s Largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $ 32 million and more than $ 19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.
In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.
For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.
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