Statement by Mid-Michigan Asbestos Disease Victims in Opposition to HB 5456

Two weeks ago a bill HB 5456 titled Asbestos Claim Transparency, drafted by the National Chamber of Commerce and out of state Asbestos companies was pushed into Michigan through their lobbyists.

Michigan’s Commanders Group (Congressionally Chartered Veterans Organizations) filed their resolution in opposition to the bill. The group includes American Legion, American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Marine Corps League, noncommissioned officers association, Polish American Veterans, order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam veterans of America, paralyzed Veterans of America, and the veterans of foreign wars. Michigan’s first responders through the fire fighters union have filed their opposition. Michigan Association for Justice on behalf of asbestos disease victims throughout Michigan has filed their opposition.

HB 5456 seeks to delay and diminish if not deny compensation from the responsible asbestos corporations to victims. Since we already have transparency by law in Michigan (all bankruptcy claim documents are furnished to trial defendants 6 months before trial) this transparency titled proposal is designed with one goal in mind – to run out the clock on asbestos victims in Michigan so they die before their cases even make it to court.

What is HB5456?

HB 5456 would:

• Delay Filing of cases for Asbestos Cancer Victims.
• Drastically alter evidentiary proof of substantial exposure to Chapter 11 Asbestos
  Company products and change procedural rules for asbestos cases to force courts to
  dilute and reduce judgments in favor of victims.
•  Authorize defendant corporations to unilaterally delay trial repeatedly, so that victims
  could die before their day in court. Patients with asbestos cancer usually die within 2
  years of diagnosis.
• Prevent final judgements for an Asbestos Cancer plaintiff and payment of damages for 1 year following trial.

The concept of this one-sided legislation began at the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. The group incubates and disseminates legislative proposals for use by state legislators. ALEC is heavily funded by companies with major asbestos liability, including Koch Industries, Honeywell and 3M and their insurers.

Asbestos can linger in the body for decades before illness strikes. Patients who develop asbestos-related diseases today were exposed a generation ago, when the asbestos industry was fully aware of the dangers, but failed to warn and protect industrial workers, construction laborers, military personnel, and others who were exposed on the job or by contact with exposed family members.

An estimated 10,000 – 15,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases and people are still getting sick. Dozens of countries have banned asbestos, but it is not banned in the United States. As companies continue to import hundreds of tons of asbestos into the U.S. each year, workers, first responders and others continue to be exposed, especially when buildings are renovated or demolished. HB 5456 puts onerous burdens on victims and asbestos trusts, but does nothing to protect innocent Michigan workers from exposure to asbestos. And don’t forget, this is a veterans’ issue. Forty percent (4 out of 10) of all Michigan asbestos victims are veterans. That’s why the major veterans groups oppose this bill.

Asbestos was once widely used in a number of industries that employed many people in
Michigan, including construction, steel, pulp and paper production and the auto industry. Michigan has a higher-than-average mortality rate for asbestos-related diseases, according to AsbestosNation.org. Nearly 7,900 Michigan residents died from asbestos diseases between 1999 and 2013 alone.

Michigan Veterans are disproportionally afflicted with asbestos-related diseases. While they make up 8 percent of the U.S. population, they account for roughly 40 percent (4 out of 10) of Michigan residents who contract asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, stomach and other organs caused only by asbestos.

Legal experts with the Michigan Association for Justice, point out the bill makes no sense in Michigan. Michigan already has “Transparency” by Court Order (CMO16) and Michigan juries already consider fault of all bankrupt asbestos companies; MI has had apportionment of damages by Statute since the 1995 Tort Reform bill.

Since we already have transparency by court rule in Michigan the true insidious purpose of this asbestos industry bill is to create delays. Generally asbestos plaintiffs have only a short time to live. Delays are beneficial to asbestos defendants for a number of reasons. The time value of money is different for a dying plaintiff, who in many cases will heavily discount the value of his or her claim. Cancer victims want to settle their affairs, pay for new treatments to extend their lives and generally have a little piece of mind in their last months on earth that their spouse will have some financial security. And, whether a plaintiff is alive or dead is one of the strongest criteria for the value of a case. Juries tend to award live plaintiffs much higher verdicts.

Any legislation that could add further burdens or harm to those who suffer from asbestos disease should be seen as nothing short of an outrage by every resident of Michigan. The elected leaders in Lansing should oppose this legislation that could cruelly and unfairly deny justice to many of their fellow citizens, including those who served our nation.

About Goldberg, Persky & White P.C.

The Mesothelioma Law Firm, GPW, has some of the top mesothelioma lawyers in the nation. With over forty years of experience, we are hard to beat. We have been pursuing asbestos claims on behalf of asbestos victims since 1976. We are the top mesothelioma lawyers in Michigan. Very few mesothelioma law firms have had million dollar settlements for their clients, we have. We currently have over 5,000 clients, and the number grows daily. Our team has put together data on Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors and info on our Pennsylvania branch with the leading Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers. A Detroit Asbestos Lawyer can greatly help a victim of Michigan asbestos exposure. We stand against HB 5456.

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West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctors | Cancer Centers | Treatment Options

West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctors

The State Of West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctors, Cancer Centers, and Treatment

Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, & Lung Cancer patients who reside in West Virginia have access to the leading West Virginia Mesothelioma doctors and treatment throughout the state. In West Virginia mesothelioma treatment which includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are now available for Conventional mesothelioma. Also, we get to have clinical trials recruiting pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma patients in all of West Virginia.

In this article, you get to see the top West Virginia mesothelioma doctors who are practicing in the whole of West Virginia being the top West Virginia cancer centers in the state. Also, for your conveniences, there has been local cancer support which has been made available.

West Virginia Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Below is the list of health care options in West Virginia which you can learn from West Virginia mesothelioma Cancer Centers. Mesothelioma cancers centers are available in West Virginia where you can get the best quality cancer treatment, and tend to get more detailed information about these cancer centers is made available when you visit the cancer center appropriate link.

 

Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center

Morgantown, WV

The West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown has the Mary Randolph Cancer Center which specializes in the treatment of mesothelioma, lung diseases, as well as the thoracic cancers. If you need help contacting the Cancer center contact one of our West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyers

Here is list of the top Mesothelioma Doctors in West Virginia

This list comprises of the best doctors who specialize in treating mesothelioma in the state of West Virginia. West Virginia mesothelioma doctors typically have years of experience. By clicking on each of the doctor’s names you get to have the information about their area of expertise, profession affiliations, background, and their office locations.

 

Dr. Nepal C. Chowdhury

Thoracic Surgeon

St. Mary’s Medical Center

St. Mary’s Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Huntington, WV 25702

(304) 399-7530

 

This doctor is a certified thoracic surgeon who currently practices at the Cabel Huntington Hospital located in Huntington, West Virginia. He does specialize in the general thoracic Surgery and Peripheral Vascular Surgery.

 

Dr. Rebecca S. Wolfer

Thoracic Surgeon

Marshall Health-Surgery

Huntington, WV 25701

(304) 691-1200

As a certified doctor in both general surgery and general cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Rebecca S. Wolfer is an associate professor in the department of Surgery at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. A West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctor can be very helpful, let one of our West Virginia mesothelioma attorneys help you find

 

Most patients do travel out of their current states just to meet the best oncologist and thoracic surgeons across the country, and note that all these mesothelioma experts do have particular focus within their practice.

 

Here is the list of Top Mesothelioma Doctors in the Country

Paul H. Sugarbaker, M.D.

Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncologist

Washington Cancer Institute

Dr. Paul H. Sugarbaker, FACS, FRCS graduated from Cornell University Medical College in New York City and received his surgical training at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, a Harvard University affiliated program. There he also received a Masters Degree in Immunology at the Harvard School of Arts and Sciences. In 1976 he accepted a position at the National Institutes of Health/ National Cancer Institute – Surgery Branch, as Senior Investigator until 1986. Subsequently, after a brief stay at the Emory Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia he moved back to Washington, DC to become the Medical Director of the Washington Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in 1989. Currently, he is the Chief of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program and the Director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Malignancies at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. His interests are focused exclusively on gastrointestinal cancer, gynecologic malignancy, and peritoneal mesothelioma of the abdomen – all malignancies which usually present with cancerous spread to the abdominal cavity. Currently, his clinical and investigative work is concentrated on the treatment of the peritoneal surface dissemination of cancers, referred to as PERITONEAL METASTASES, also known as peritoneal carcinomatosis. He has developed, perfected and popularized the combined treatments of cancer surgery with warm chemotherapy, infused into the open abdomen towards the end the surgical intervention. His mantra, “It’s what the surgeon doesn’t see that kills the patient,” summarizes his thinking as he realizes the limitations of surgery alone, and the limitations of systemic or regional chemotherapy alone. It turns out that the combined application of both the surgical removal of the tumors and the regional treatment directly into the open abdomen where the tumors are located, is especially effective in selected patients. This treatment option and its results have been published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and in the lay press. Further work to supplement these treatments and to make them even more effective by adding systemic chemo infusions: Perioperative intravenous and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC and EPIC} are an essential planned part of these combined surgical and regional chemotherapy interventions. Over the many years he has published over 900 articles and book chapters, edited 7 books, produced 24 videos, and received 4 honorary professorships. He has traveled to all 5 continents to make these treatments available to patients all over the world.

 

Claire Verschraegen, M.D.

 

Medical Oncologist

James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

Verschraegen is a board-certified oncologist who has worked with mesothelioma, metastatic melanomas, sarcomas, gynecologic malignancies and other uncommon cancers. She also has worked with new anti-cancer drugs and treatments of solid tumors, always stressing the importance of clinical trials to help improve therapies.

Before coming to Ohio, she was a tenured professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UNM, serving as director of the Translational Therapeutics and Clinical Research Program. She oversaw the Clinical Protocol and Data Management Core at the UNM Cancer Center.

She was the principal investigator for the minority-based Community Clinical Oncology Program, which opened NCI-sponsored clinical trials to anyone in the state who wished to participate.

She earned her Medical Degree at the University Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium and trained at the Institute Bordet. She went to Texas for her Medical Oncology fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where she eventually joined the faculty.

QUICK FACT

Before joining UVM, Dr. Verschraegen oversaw a Clinical Protocol and Data Management Program for the University of New Mexico’s Cancer Center.

It was in New Mexico when she did one often-cited study that evaluated the anti-mesothelin immunotoxin SS1 (dsFv) PE38 in fresh tumor cells of peritoneal mesothelioma patients. She also conducted several trials involving a variety of drug combinations that were successful for specific cancers.

Her work with rare cancers has been well respected and well received nationally. Her academic writing includes 10 book chapters, 80 peer-reviewed medical papers and 20 invited papers. She is a former member of the Scientific Board for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

 

The Cancer Support Center of The State of West Virginia

Mesothelioma patients can enjoy transport, temporary housing, counselling, and physical therapy from the cancer support service of the state of West Virginia. While receiving treatments for mesothelioma in West Virginia all these local services may be of help to the patients receiving the treatment.

 

West Virginia Mesothelioma Treatment Support Services

Counseling & Support Groups

Cabell Huntington Hospital

(Huntington)

304-526-2000

 

WV University Healthcare

(Martinsburg)

304-264-1000

 

Long-Term Housing

CAMC Foundation Hospitality House

(Charleston)

304-388-9870

 

The Davis House

(Elkins)

304-630-3043

 

Rosenbaum Family House

(Morgantown)

304-598-6094

 

Patient Transport

Mountain State Transport

(Clarksburg)

304-624-0800

   

Hometown Transportation

(Moundsville)

304-845-6070

 

MTM

(Charleston)

844-549-8353

 

Physical Therapy

St. Mary’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

(Huntington)

304-526-1333

 

Pivot Physical Therapy

(Shepherdstown)

304-876-8600

 

Advanced Physical Therapy

(Charleston)

304-720-9185 

Mesothelioma Treatment Cost

Treating the mesothelioma cancer can be a very expensive proposition and also when receiving related treatment cost can easily add up. Also, when dealing with cancer people tends to take time off from their daily job.

Below is the estimated cost for a number of common procedures used in the diagnosing as well as the treatment of mesothelioma.

West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctors, Cancer Centers and Treatment

Mesothelioma patients living in West Virginia have access to quality mesothelioma treatment in state. Conventional mesothelioma treatments available in West Virginia include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Additionally, clinical trials may currently be recruiting pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma patients in West Virginia. West Virginia Mesothelioma doctors are here for you.

 

We provide a list of top mesothelioma doctors practicing in West Virginia as well as the top cancer care centers in the state. Local cancer support services have been included as well for your convenience. Learn more about health care options available in West Virginia below.

 

West Virginia Mesothelioma Statistics

428

Mesothelioma Deaths, 1999 – 2015

  

161

Asbestosis Deaths, 1999 – 2015

 

589

Total Deaths, 1999 – 2015

Need help Contacting a West Virginia Mesothelioma Doctor?

It is not uncommon for patients to travel outside of their current states to meet with top oncologists and thoracic surgeons across the country. These mesothelioma experts usually have a particular focus within their practice.

Help with Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

Mesothelioma treatment can be a very expensive proposition and all of the different treatment related costs can add up quickly. Additionally, many people may need to take time off from work to deal with their cancer diagnosis. A West Virginia asbestos attorney can help you.

 

The table below provides cost estimates for a number of common procedures used in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma. A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can be of great help to patients in Pennsylvania. Work with Americas leading mesothelioma law firm, mesothelioma lawyers, and mesothelioma attorneys at GPW. A Michigan mesothelioma doctor can be very useful to those diagnosed in Michigan.

 

Common Costs Associated with Treating Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Diagnosis & Treatment Costs: Approximate Cost Range

Diagnostic Imaging (CT, PET, MRI): $800 – $1,600 per scan

Needle Biopsy: $500 – $700

Thoracoscopy or Pleuroscopy (lungs) or Laparoscopy (abdomen): $3,600 – $5,000

Thoracotomy (lungs) or Laparotomy (abdomen): $7,800 – $7,900

Surgery – Lobectomy/Pneumonectomy (removal of part or all of a lung): $13,000 – $17,000

Radiation: $7,000 – $12,000

Chemotherapy – Pemetrexed (Alimta®): $37,000 – $50,000

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC):   $700 – $1,000

The above cost does not factor in the insurance payments as well as reimbursements. The above estimated cost was taken from the Fair Health Consumer Cost Look up tool, bluebook, and some other sources to determine the actual cost for the specific procedures. West Virginia mesothelioma doctors can be very helpful.

 

How to file an Asbestos Exposure Claim

Ensure not to lose your right to file a claim. Are you or your loved ones been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you are exposed to asbestos in West Virginia, then you may be entitled to some compensation. You will need to file your claim to the right statute for limitations for the state of West Virginia. West Virginia Mesothelioma doctors can be of great help to you. Speak with a West Virginia Asbestos attorney at GPW.

 

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Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors, Cancer Centers and Treatment

Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors, Cancer Centers and Treatment

If you reside in Michigan and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, asbestosis, or any other form of lung cancer, you have access to a variety of treatment alternatives. Standard mesothelioma cancer treatments readily available in Michigan consist of surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and radiation. Beyond these traditional treatments, scientific trials might presently be accepting pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma cancer patients in Michigan. A mesothelioma lawyer can be of great benefit to those diagnosed with an asbestos related disease. The Michigan Lung Cancer Lawyer are there to help lung cancer patients as well.

We have noted leading mesothelioma cancer medical professionals that practice in Michigan, along with the leading cancer care centers in the state. In addition, we have found a variety of regional cancer treatment assistance services for your benefit. Find out more about healthcare alternatives offered in Michigan listed below

Michigan Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Our mesothelioma lawyers have assembled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers in Michigan. Please click a cancer center link for additional information about the medical programs used, associated mesothelioma cancer medical professionals and ways to get in touch with the cancer center.

Ann Arbor Hematology Oncology Associates P.C.

Ypsilanti, MI

Ann Arbor Hematology Oncology Associates P.C. is a leading cancer clinic where some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the country provide quality cancer treatment for patients.

 

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is a top cancer center where leading mesothelioma doctors use the latest mesothelioma treatment protocols to help their cancer patients. The Thoracic Oncology Program focuses on the care of patients with esophageal and lung cancers, and research aimed at developing more effective therapy for these diseases. The Program consists of thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists and nurses dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care.

 

 

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

 

Detroit, MI

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is among the best mesothelioma cancer centers in the nation with top doctors providing state of the art cancer treatment for patients. The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, headquartered in Detroit, is the largest cancer research and provider network in Michigan and has 14 treatment locations. It is one of 49 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer treatment and research centers in the United States. Affiliated with Wayne State University School of Medicine, the institute has 1,000 staff members, including 300 doctors, and 100 researchers. The staff treats approximately 14,500 patients each year and operates with a budget of $260 million.

Karmanos has one of the largest clinical trials programs in the nation, giving patients access to more than 100 treatments often available only at Karmanos. It conducts 800 cancer-specific scientific investigations programs and clinical trials each year. The institute has a Phase 1 program, a participating site in the Early Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ET-CTN) of the NCI. Only a few ET-CTN grants were awarded in North America, with Karmanos being the only site in Michigan. Gerold Bepler is president and chief executive officer.

 

Marquette General Cancer Center

Marquette, MI

Marquette General Cancer Center is among the best mesothelioma cancer centers in the nation with top doctors providing state of the art cancer treatment for patients.

Marquette General Hospital is a hospital and regional medical center located in Marquette, Michigan and serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The hospital is a Level II trauma center as verified by the American College of Surgeons. The hospital trains medical students from the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, as well as residents in the family medicine residency program. Prior to 1973, Marquette had two hospitals: St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital. Marquette General Hospital was formed in 1973 when the two Marquette hospitals joined.

Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors

Our mesothelioma lawyers have taken the time to put together a list of some of Michigan mesothelioma doctors. A Michigan mesothelioma doctor is a type of oncologist that specializes in a lung cancer called Mesothelioma. Typically they are well rounded physicians that see patients with all forms of lung cancer.

Dr. Shirish M. Gadgeel

Co-Leader, Thoracic Oncology Team

Dr. Shirish M. Gadgeel is Team Leader of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan where he specializes in treating mesothelioma.

Dr. Gadgeel joined Michigan Medicine in 2017 to advance the care of lung cancer patients with a combined emphasis on clinical trials and research. As treatment options for lung cancer patients expand, he has never felt more hopeful that an increasing number of patients will benefit from positive results. He believes the Comprehensive Cancer Center is uniquely positioned to advance care through the collaboration and expertise of its medical faculty and research scientists, which enable us to conduct and execute clinical trials that might not be possible at other cancer centers.

Dr. Gadgeel treats patients at the Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, as well as the Northville Health Center, making it easier for Metro-Detroit area patients to obtain care closer to home during a time when driving long distances can be a challenge. He plans to use the wider treatment area as a way to include more patients in lung cancer clinical trials for new treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Dr. Gadgeel is the Mary Lou Kennedy Research Professor in Thoracic Oncology and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine’s Division of Hematology/Oncology. He is the co-leader of the Thoracic Oncology Research Program and associate director for cancer care at Networking and Affiliated Centers. He has served on a number of committees, including ASCO’s education committee and as a mentor for the International and Development and Education Award (IDEA) program. He is a member of the executive committee for lung cancer at SWOG.

Dr. Ayman Soubani

Thoracic Oncologist

Dr. Ayman Soubani is an internist in Detroit, Michigan and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including DMC Harper University Hospital and Karmanos Cancer Center. He received his medical degree from University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Soubani accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. He is one of 264 doctors at DMC Harper University Hospital and one of 25 at Karmanos Cancer Center who specialize in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Gregory P. Kalemkerian

Medical Oncologist

Dr. Gregory P. Kalemkerian is a medical oncologist and professor of medical oncology at the University of Michigan Health System. Prior to assuming his post at the University of Michigan in 1999, Dr. Kalemkerian served in the role of a physician-scientist at Wayne State University’s Karmanos Cancer Institute’s lung cancer program located in Detroit. During his time there, from the years 1993-1999, Dr. Kalemkerian’s research centered upon the development of experimental therapies for lung cancer.

Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors

Michigan mesothelioma doctors can be of great benefit to those diagnosed with mesothelioma or any asbestos related disease. The few we have listed above yield years of experience, that does not mean they are the only lung cancer or Michigan mesothelioma doctors available. These are just a few resources that are available to those diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos related disease in Michigan. A Michigan asbestos lawyer can be useful as well. For those diagnosed in Pennsylvania, a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer, Pennsylvania mesothelioma law firm, or Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney can also greatly assist you in finding valuable information.Michigan Lung Cancer Law Firm is one of the best law firm in Michigan that can help lung cancer patients.

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