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Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer

Monday, September 21st, 2009

From the “Windy City” of Chicago in the northeast down to Madison County in the southwest, Illinois is a state that owes much of its success to heavy industry. Steel mills, manufacturing plants, and automobile factories are all well represented within the state. Though these industries have brought employers and jobs to the great state of Illinois, they have also brought an increased risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

Illinois Plants and Industry

Illinois is considered to be the industrial epicenter of the Midwest. Chicago is especially notable for its strong ties to the steel and automotive industries. Within these manufacturing plants, asbestos was widely used for its insulation and fire-resistant properties. At Ford and General Motors manufacturing plants, asbestos was used in vehicle products such as brake pads.

Steel mills such as Inland Steel, Republic Steel, and Interlake Steel have also been linked to a heightened risk of asbestos exposure. Illinois oil refineries have been linked to mesothelioma as well, with notable employers that include Shell Oil, Sinclair, and Mobil.

Illinois Vermiculite Processing

W.R. Grace and Company is one of the most notorious companies when it comes to asbestos exposure. The company, which operated an asbestos mine in Libby, Montana, has undergone several federal trials concerning long-term negligence and cover-ups related to unsafe exposure to asbestos.

From 1974 to the 1990s, W.R. Grace shipped asbestos-contaminated vermiculite to a plant in West Chicago for processing. Due to the high amounts of asbestos fiber that were released into the air during processing, this region of West Chicago has been deemed an EPA Superfund site by the U.S. government. Both employees of the plant and those living in the surrounding area may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos.

Mesothelioma in Illinois

Mesothelioma lawyers at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP have significant experience when it comes to asbestos-related lawsuits in Illinois. Our mesothelioma attorneys have filed petitions in a number of high-risk Illinois regions, including Cook County, Grundy County and Madison County.

Illinois is bound by a number of unique mesothelioma state laws that require considerable knowledge and expertise. Contact us today to find out how our mesothelioma lawyers can help with your Illinois asbestos lawsuit.

Tags: asbestos, EPA, GM, Libby Montana, mesothelioma, vermiculite
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GM Bankruptcy Could Leave Asbestos Claimants in the Dust

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

As GM, Ford and Chrysler struggle to rebuild in Detroit, their reorganization could have a dramatic impact on the outcome of countless asbestos-related lawsuits.

GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 1, 2009. According to U.S. laws related to bankruptcy, organizations that file for Chapter 11 are allowed to request that all asbestos-related liabilities be moved into a single trust. Such an outcome could potentially be disastrous for those who have suffered unhealthy asbestos products from GM products.

Presently, asbestos-related cases filed against GM total approximately $648 million. The majority of cases come from individuals who had close contact with brake pads on GM cars. Asbestos has long been a component used in brakes due to its high level of heat resistance.

If GM is successful in rolling all current claims into a single trust, claimants can expect to receive a fraction of what they would likely receive from independent trials.

Presently, the government’s plan for GM is to sell the company’s best assets off to a new corporation. The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, a group that includes asbestos claimants, is fighting to block the move. They are seeking to accomplish this by deeming the government sale as unconstitutional, because asbestos claimants were left out of the decision process.

As it stands now, GM is requesting that all current product liability lawsuits be admonished. Such a condition has already been granted to Chrysler as a part of their reorganization package.

This latest development in the restructuring of GM is just the latest example of how tort reform can negatively impact asbestos claimants. By enacting laws that limit a mesothelioma patient’s ability to file and collect fair compensation, the legal system is doing a grave injustice to victims.

If you are concerned that GM’s bankruptcy could affect your right to seek financial compensation for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, schedule a free consultation with our experienced mesothelioma lawyers. Contact us today.

Tags: asbestos, bankruptcy, GM
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