Tag Archives: mesothelioma

Wisconsin Sheet Metals Union Asbestos Case

Asbestos exposure on construction sites was commonplace in the 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. Not long ago, I was able to help a man exposed to asbestos during that time. He worked throughout the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, including facilities in South Milwaukee, West Allis, and other sites.  Eventually, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. As is typical in asbestos mesothelioma cases, the diagnosis was made after a biopsy of his lung and a nodule. He is actually retired and living in Arizona, but since his exposure as a construction worker in the Sheet Metals Union took place primarily in Wisconsin, a basis for his lawsuit against manufactures and distributors of asbestos laced products is here and based on their causing his mesothelioma.

Over $29,000,000.00 in Mesothelioma Asbestos Recoveries for Wisconsin Victims

Wisconsin mesothelioma asbestos victims have no better place to turn to than Wisconsin personal injury lawyers Pasternak & Zirgibel, S.C.  Over the years, I have helped Wisconsin asbestos victims recover more than $29 million in cases related to asbestos and/or mesothelioma.  Many of these victims were exposed to asbestos in the military, a factory, a boiler room, construction sites, power plants, etc.

Ambulance-chasing outfits from out-of-state advertise nationally for these cases, but all my Wisconsin clients prefer legal representation in Wisconsin especially highly qualified legal representation.  I have been honored as one of Wisconsin’s Top 50 “Super Lawyers”, voted “Best Attorney” by CNI Newspapers, ranked as one of Milwaukee’s “Leading Lawyers“, received an AV® Preeminent rating, and named one of the “Best Lawyers in America.”

My firm is ranked a Tier 1 Milwaukee plaintiffs personal injury law firm by “Best Law Firms” U.S. News and World Report®. It is a Martindale-Hubbell AV® rated Wisconsin personal injury law firm listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and A+ BBB rated, the highest ratings given to any Wisconsin law firm.

If you or a loved one is a Wisconsin victim of asbestos mesothelioma, call at (262) 785-0802.

Milwaukee Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Not long ago, I met with a man suffering from mesothelioma.  This man had worked his entire career at Wisconsin Electric also know as WE Energies.  The man worked at a variety of power plants in Wisconsin, including the Oak Creek power plant, the downtown Milwaukee plant, the Miller valley power plant in Milwaukee, the Pleasant Prairie plant near Kenosha, and various other Wisconsin Electric power plants and substations.  On a number of occasions, he would work around asbestos included electrical work, plumbing related work, and oil treatment work.  The asbestos was in gaskets, insulating pipes, used around wire and joints.  Asbestos was used because it was a good insulator.

Sadly, the man was living a nice life of retirement in Florida enjoying when he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that is only caused by asbestos exposure.  He was suffering from shortness of breath when his doctor discovered fluid on his lungs.  Eventually, a thoracic surgeon was seen and he did a biopsy, which led to the definitive diagnosis of asbestos-related mesothelioma.

When I handle these mesothelioma lawsuits, the victims generally know that their disease is a fatal one.  However, the victims also know that the monies that are involved in these asbestos cases will do at least two things, punish the companies responsible (as many knew asbestos was carcinogenic and caused mesothelioma) and help the families of the victim of mesothelioma.

Boiler Insulation & Asbestos

A Wisconsin Navy veteran contacted me several years ago.  This Naval veteran had served on the USS Tattnall as a boiler technician.   He was suffering with mesothelioma that was caused by years of asbestos exposure while serving in our U.S. Navy.  This exposure to asbestos fibers took place while he worked in the boilerrooms surrounded by asbestos covered pipes on the U.S. Tattnall.  He had been diagnosed by asbestos doctors at the Veteran’s Administration.  Sadly, he passed away as a result of the mesothelioma.

Boiler insulation is a very common culprit in asbestos mesothelioma cases, including those involving U.S. Naval Veterans who worked on ships.  The removal of this thermal insulation from boilers, pipes, tanks and ducts, which was common in all boilerrooms, caused the asbestos fibers to be released into the air.  When repairs or maintenance was required, whether in ships or industrial applications, the insulation was a friable form of asbestos that could easily emit fibers easily into the air.  Similarly, fibrous fluffy sprayed-on asbestos products used for fireproofing, insulation, or sound proofing were quite friable and could readily release airborne asbestos fibers.  The potential for asbestos products to release breathable fibers was extremely hazardous to all those working in industrial occupations, especially with respect to boiler insulation.

We were able to successfully help this man’s family as we have many Navy veterans and veterans who served in other branches of the U.S. armed forces.  We have also helped numerous boilermakers, plumbers and others exposed to asbestos in similar occupations.  To date, we have helped the families of these mesothelioma victims living in Milwaukee, and other areas of Wisconsin, to recover more than $25,000,000.00.  That we know of, no other local asbestos law firm has had this type of success.  In fact, even so-called “national firms” have had limited success in Wisconsin.

Wiscsonsin Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts Bill

Wisconsin legislators, at the behest for ALEC and the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council, are at it again.  Over the course of the last two years, they have combined to completely decimate asbestos and mesothelioma victims’ legal rights.  These victims are typically senior citizens who have served our country in the armed forces, especially the Navy, or who were construction laborers, plumbers, electricians, etc.  Most of these victims are dying a horrible death suffocating from the asbestos they breathed in over the course of their service.  These Wisconsin citizens and Veterans are dying and yet these Wisconsin legislators, primarily Republicans, like Andre Jacque of De Pere, are shilling for big businesses and insurance companies.  Representative Jacque apparently doesn’t care that only 9 asbestos related lawsuits were even filed in Wisconsin in 2012.  No, instead he seeks to make sure that any remaining Wisconsin victims of asbestos and mesothelioma will not get justice.

The law Jacque, ALEC, and the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council propose compels that asbestos victims bring all Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust claims first, before bringing a lawsuit against non-bankrupt asbestos companies, like Halliburton, Union Carbide, utilities, and others. The goal is to reduce asbestos victims’ recoveries and delay mesothelioma victims’ ability to get their day in court before the die. Jacque apparently does not want to hear the latter, but that’s the tragic result of the law he has proposed. Clearly, Jacque has never had a family member die from asbestos-related disease or mesothelioma.

Wisconsin asbestos mesothelioma lawyers

Electricians & Veterans Mesothelioma

I’ve written before about U.S. Navy Veterans with mesothelioma.  Sadly, the asbestos exposure many veterans had while serving in the armed forces is what causes mesothelioma.  Quite recently, I met with a mesothelioma victim diagnosed here in Wisconsin.  He’s a veteran who served at Great Lakes Naval Base and on various U.S. Navy ships.  In addition, he had a long history of working at Western Electric in Cicero, Illinois, where he was also exposed to asbestos laced products.  As Veteran’s Day approaches, we need to remember all the Naval Veterans who have served and to honor those still with us, many of whom have asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos Trusts

Asbestos trusts are the topic of a recent law firm’s national t.v. commercial I saw on CNN and Secrecy of asbestos trusts basically explains why that is.  The bottom line for the asbestos victim suffering from mesotheliom or asbestosis is that you should find a lawyer or law firm in your state, here it’s Wisconsin, that works with the asbestos trusts

The system is set up in a way such that it is essentially impossible for an asbestos victim to actually file their own claim against asbestos trusts.  It’s likely easier to handle your own medical malpractice trial.  In fact, it’s so difficult to make a claim against the asbestos trusts that most personal injury lawyers will not handle cases against asbestos trusts, which is why my law firm often receives referrals from other lawyers of clients suffering from mesotheliom or asbestosis.

If you are looking within Wisconsin to make a claim related to asbestos-related disease and potentially Wisconsin asbestos companies or the asbestos trusts, then contact us.  Do similarly, if you want to find a lawyer out of state to make claim against asbestos companies or the asbestos trusts.

WR Grace Asbestos Criminals

Here’s a Bloomberg article describing how one of those poor asbestos companies (sarcasm, see last post) was warned about how it was killing the people of Libby, Montana with its asbestos-laced vermiculite.

Closer to home, Wisconsin companies facing asbestos litigation or alleged to have some link to asbestos or mesothelioma include:

Alfa Laval Flow, Kenosha
Algoma Hardwood, Algoma
Allen Bradley, Milwaukee
Allied Glove Corporation a/k/a Allied Glove & Safety Products Corporation, Milwaukee
Allied Insulation Supply Co, Milwaukee
Allis Chalmers, Milwaukee
American Brass, Kenosha
A.O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee
Appleton Coated Papers, Appleton
Appleton Gas Plant, Appleton
Appleton Wire, Appleton
Aqua-Chem Inc., Milwaukee
Army Corp of Engineers, Milwaukee
A W Chesterton Company
Badger Ordnance Works, Baraboo
Badger Meter Inc., Milwaukee
Badger Paper Mill, Peshtigo
Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay
Bergstrom Paper, Appleton
Beloit Corporation a/k/a Regal-Beloit Corporation, Beloit
Blatz Brewery, Milwaukee
Brake Parts Inc., Manufacturer of Raybestos Brand Brakes, Waupaca
Briggs & Stratton Corp., Wauwatosa
Bucyrus-Erie a/k/a Bucyrus Foundry a/k/a Bucyrus International, Inc., South Milwaukee
Building Service Industrial Supply Inc, West Allis
Burger Boat, Manitowoc
CBS Corporation, New York
Charmin Paper, Green Bay
Christy Corporation, Sturgeon Bay
Cleaver Brooks, Milwaukee
Colt Industries, Janesville
Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee
Consolidated Paper, Wisconsin Rapids
Copes Vulcan Inc., Madison
Cooper Industries Inc, Houston
Cooper Power Systems, Franksville
Crucible Steel Casting, Milwaukee
CSR Limited, New Orleans
DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Kenosha
Dana Corporation, Brake and Chassis, McHenry, Illinois
Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems, Milwaukee
Dielectric, Menomonee Falls
Eaton Corp
Eaton Electrical Inc
Edgewater Power Plant, Sheboygan
Falk Foundry, Milwaukee
Federal Mogul Corporation, Manitowoc
Federal-Mogul Corporation Piston Rings and Liners, Schofield
Federal-Mogul Corporation Sintered Valve Train and Transmission Products Waupun
Federal-Mogul Corporation Piston Rings and Liners, West Allis
First Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee
Fort Howard Paper Mill, Marinette
Foster Wheeler Energy Corp
Fox River Paper, Appleton
Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC
General Casting, Milwaukee
General Electric Company, Business Units: GE Capital, GE Industrial Systems, GE Lighting, GE Medical Systems, GE Plastics, GE Power Systems, GE Supply, Various Locations
General Motors Corporation, Delphi Electronics (formerly Delco), Milwaukee
General Signal Corp, Muskegon
Georgia-Pacific, Green Bay
Gladfelter Company, Neenah
GM Assembly, Janesville
Grede Foundries, Milwaukee
Harnischfeger, Milwaukee
Hennes Services Inc, West Milwaukee
Holy Family Hospital, Manitowoc
IMO Industries Inc
Industrial Holdings Corp
Ingersoll Rand
International Paper, Green Bay
Ipsen International Inc, Springfield, IL
J.I. Case, Racine
JP Pulliam Power Plant, Green Bay
Kewaunee Nuclear Plant, Kewaunee
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah
Kraft Foods, Beaver Dam
Ladish, Cudahy
Manitowoc Company, Manitowoc
Manitowoc Shipyard, Manitowoc
Marine Plaza, Milwaukee
Marquette Cement Plant, Milwaukee
Metlife Inc
Midalco Ltd
Miller Brewery, Milwaukee
Milwaukee Valve Company, Milwaukee
Mirro Aluminum, Manitowoc
Mosinee Paper, Mosinee
Neenah Foundry, Neenah
Nekoosa Edwards Paper, Nekoosa
Nelson Dewey Station, Cassville
Nicolet Paper, De Pere
Nohl Corp, Milwaukee
Northern States Power, La Crosse
Northridge, Milwaukee
Oak Creek Power Plant, Oak Creek
O I Inc
Owens Illinois Inc
Pabst Brewery, Milwaukee
Parkland Builders, Janesville
Pelton Steel, Beloit
Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay
Plastics Engineering Co., Sheboygan
Pope & Talbot, Eau Claire
Port Washington Power, Pt Washington
Rockland Builders, Janesville
Rexnord Nordberg, Milwaukee
St. Regis Paper, Rhinelander
Riley Power Inc
Rock River Power Plant, Rock River
Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee
Southridge, Milwaukee
S.C. Johnson, Racine
Saint Francis Hospital, Milwaukee
Saint Lukes Hospital, Milwaukee
Saint Michaels Hospital, Milwaukee
Secure Horizons
Sprinkmann Sons Corp, Milwaukee
SPX Corporation, Madison
Square D Company
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay
Svoboda Industries, Kewaunee
Theda Clark Medical Center, Appleton
Two Rivers Hospital, Two Rivers
U.S. Rubber, Eau Claire
Union Carbide Co
Unit Drop Forge, Milwaukee
Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee
Warren Pumps LLC
Waukesha Foundry Co. Inc., Waukesha
Wausau Paper Mill, Brokaw
Westinghouse
Weston Power Plant, Rothchild
Weyerhaeuser, Marshfield
Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC), Milwaukee
Wisconsin Electric Gas, WE Energies, WEPCO, Wisconsin Energies, Wisconsin Natural, and WICOR, locations throughout Wisconsin

Asbestos Occupations

Asbestos-related occupations include the following:

Auto mechanics
Boilermakers
Bricklayers
Building inspectors
Carpenters
Demolition workers
Drywallers
Electricians
Floor covering manufacturers or installers
Furnace workers
Glazers
Grinders
Hod carriers
Insulators
Iron workers
Laborers
Longshoremen
Maintenance workers
Merchant marines
Millwrights
Operating engineers
Painters
Plasterers
Plumbers
Roofers

For a more complete list see Wisconsin mesothelioma occupations.