Jeff forwarded this to me, so have at it, people:
> From: “Jesse Herman”
> Date: January 15, 2009 10:11:30 AM MST
> To:
> Subject: proteinwisdom.com
>
> Resource Suggestion
>
> Jeff,
>
> I am the awareness coordinator at asbestos.com
>
> (Mesothelioma Cancer Center). I happened to come across proteinwisdom.com
>
> when reading other blogs that seem concerned with veteran affairs. I am reaching out to vets and those still serving in efforts to spread awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and how to best prevent and treat it.
>
> Our news department is constantly finding new stories dealing with the military and asbestos because roughly 30% of all mesothelioma victims are veterans. That is why you can see on the front page of our website we actively display veterans issues.
>
> As you may know, mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that can result when exposed to asbestos and there is no treatment that results in a cure.
>
> For these reasons we offer free assistance (with VA Claims) to any veteran for a number of issues, including those exposed to asbestos. Our partnership with Senior Veterans Benefit Counselor Carl Jewett has worked out wonderfully. The content I wish to provide includes a broad spectrum of information and resources for veterans.
>
> What we would like to do is offer original content formatted specifically for your website that covers many of the current events and threats that exist, as it pertains to American veterans. If this interests you we will send the content and you can let me know if it works.
>
> I’d also like to note that our organization receives part of our funding through a lawfirm. Many people ask us about this, so I figured including this information up front was best. Our #1 goal is to help victims receive the best representation and medical treatment possible.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Jesse Herman
> Mesothelioma Cancer Center
> jesse@asbestos.com
> (407) 247-9664
Now, I want to stress that I think it’s great that they’re providing free claims assistance to soldiers who need help. Having said that, I wonder whether the law firm is doing this important work pro bono.
On the other hand, there’s this from Blackfive and Project Valour-IT:
1. Through Chaplain Thomlinson, I am trying to track down LCpl Trimarchi – many of you sent cards, letters and packages to…just to see how he’s doing. I’ll let you all know as soon I as hear something.
2. Corporal Seamus is out of the hospital and recovering at home. He recently returned and is back at supporting our Marines.
3. LtCol Ty Edwards still needs your prayers and support. Here is the link to his Caring Bridge site.
4. Did you contribute to Project Valour-IT?
John Donovan has a post to show you what you’ve done…(hint: you done good!)
5. And for my pal (former 1st SFGA Sergeant) looking for work, thanks for all of your help. I’ll keep you posted on that, too.
From Curt at Flopping Aces comes word that disgraced asshole Charlie Rangel is still pushing to reinstitute the draft. Won’t this detract from the prospects of the Obama Corps?
UPDATE: Major John chimes in:
Wow, who would have known all my asbestos litigation experience would come in handy at PW…
Every litigation mill in the country is hot after vets, particularly Navy ones. Until the 1970s, asbestos was often used in insulation covering ship’s pipes, boilers, etc. Another pair of litigation targets are valve packing and gasket makers – also big Navy use.
[If you ever see a VFW or American Legion magazine, they will have several full page ads seeking mesothelioma patients].Bret Coon had been reduced to mostly running out his inventory of cases since tort reform hit Texas, I haven’t heard his name much since just before I left for Iraq.
Some big players in the asbestos field are Mark Lanier (he of Vioxx fame) Waters & Krause (watch as they turn LA County into a judicial hell-hole), or by sheer volume – Brayton & Purcell (for all your specious claims, go to San Fransisco!). There are smaller but really serious folks like Jagolinzer, some earlier players like Peter Angelos are still in the business, but have basically bankrupted all or almost all of their targets. People like John Simmons have FU money and are not quite as, uh, driven as they once were. Guys like Brian Blackwell are running through inventories of garbage claims in Louisiana.Mesothelioma, pleural, not peritoneal, is 100% fatal. [I don’t care what Dr. Sugarbaker thinks he can do for you – radical extrapleural pneumonectomy, bathe everything in hot chemo…]. There are only a very few known causes, and asbestos (or zeolites) are pretty much the only cause [Radiation has been traced to a very few too].
The only thing that site is for, is to reach out and drag in some referrals.
Good stuff Dan, thanks for the links…
When I got that e-mail I immediately assumed it was a law firm trolling for victims — even before the guy mentioned the law firm. Maybe I was wrong, but that was my reaction.
That was my reaction, too, Pat, but maybe. Anyway, if I have time today I can try to look into it.
Mesothelioma is one of those things that raises a red flag for me. It’s a pretty rare cancer (about 2000 new cases a year), yet google Mesothelioma and “Lawyer and you get 14 million hits. They advertise on TV.
I’m thinking that someone is profiting from this rare Cancer, and it’s not the victims.
At one time (I haven’t been following it lately) “mesothelioma” was the most expensive keyword on Google AdWords.
And, it appears that the “Mesothelioma Cancer Center” isn’t really a center. It’s just a website, basically. A website sponsored by a law firm.
Do you have time to do a little digging into this, today, Carin? I wonder what the salaries at the Center look like, etc.
I can try.
Any more, when I hear the word asbestos I immediately think Peter Angelos, lawyer, billionaire owner of the Baltimore Orioles (and then think how he’s ruined a once great franchise).
Sdferr,
Angelos is among the worst owners in MLB! He should be doing time for what he has done to the O’s…
Regarding Spies comment:
So… if Jeff had Google AdWords installed, this thread would probably be generating some serious revenue.
From asbestos dot com’s ‘disclaimer’ page…
“Asbestos.com is currently being sponsored by Brent Coon and Associates, LLC and The Peterson Firm, LLC…”
Brent Coon? RACIST!
Peterson & Petersoff would make a great name for a sex change clinic.
I denounce myself for that.
Bret Coon is apparently a rock star among lawyers.
Wow, who would have known all my asbestos litigation experience would come in handy at PW…
Every litigation mill in the country is hot after vets, particularly Navy ones. Until the 1970s, asbestos was often used in insulation covering ship’s pipes, boilers, etc. Another pair of litigation targets are valve packing and gasket makers – also big Navy use.
[If you ever see a VFW or American Legion magazine, they will have several full page ads seeking mesothelioma patients].
Bret Coon had been reduced to mostly running out his inventory of cases since tort reform hit Texas, I haven’t heard his name much since just before I left for Iraq.
Some big players in the asbestos field are Mark Lanier (he of Vioxx fame) Waters & Krause (watch as they turn LA County into a judicial hell-hole), or by sheer volume – Brayton & Purcell (for all your specious claims, go to San Fransisco!). There are smaller but really serious folks like Jagolinzer, some earlier players like Peter Angelos are still in the business, but have basically bankrupted all or almost all of their targets. People like John Simmons have FU money and are not quite as, uh, driven as they once were. Guys like Brian Blackwell are running through inventories of garbage claims in Louisiana.
Mesothelioma, pleural, not peritoneal, is 100% fatal. [I don’t care what Dr. Sugarbaker thinks he can do for you – radical extrapleural pneumonectomy, bathe everything in hot chemo…]. There are only a very few known causes, and asbestos (or zeolites) are pretty much the only cause [Radiation has been traced to a very few too].
The only thing that site is for, is to reach out and drag in some referrals.
I have fond memories of swinging from the basement water pipes as a child, little flakes of loose asbestos insulation drifting into my happy, upturned face.
Maybe it’s not to soon to get in touch with these guys, but I don’t think there’s anyone to sue besides my parents.
They’re pretty much broke, though.
I lost out on a home loan over asbestos about 12-13 years ago. When the home inspection showed that the furnace pipes has asbestos insulation, the loan processor wanted me to sign a paper declaring that I gave up any rights to make claims against them, the bank, or the government (it was a VA loan) related to asbestos.
Since I’d served on a submarine with asbestos insulation back in the 1970s, I decided that I didn’t want to sign. I ended up buying a different house using a different loan processor.
#16 Maj. John:
IIRC, some of the big firms that were involved in asbestos litigation have landed in serious trouble with the Justice Department for fraudulent claims.
Lately I’ve been hitting Mute whenever some law firm or other brings Erin Brockovich (the real one) on to talk about how eeeeeeevil corporations deliberately sowed the wind with asbestos expressly for the purpose of giving random people mesothelioma, and how it’s every American’s patriotic duty to SUE for truth, justice and the American way.
At least, I think that’s what she’s saying in those ads. I don’t read lips but so well.
Both my grandparents on my mother’s side suffered from asbestos exposure. Granddad was a welder in Mobile AL building Liberty ships; Grandmother washed his clothes. In their case, it just gave them both emphysema.
There was one somewhat funny story I heard around asbestos. The worst kind in terms of throwing off fibers was something called “blue” asbestos. Supposedly, one cigarette brand (True?) used that stuff to make their filters for a while.
Talk about cancer sticks…..
SDN, my grandfather worked in Mobile during WWII, as a welder, building ships. I’m not sure they were Liberty ships, but most likely. He passed not from a lung ailment, but stomach cancer.
He continued his welding trade in El Paso and Phoenix. Welding in Phoenix..the devil’s working conditions.
Oh, and those were Kent cigarettes..
The funny thing is that asbestos also saved so many lives. It was fire-proffing material, and on ships fires were nothing funny.
Morro Castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Morro_Castle
USS Frankiln http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Franklin_(CV-13)
#21 – Kent cigarettes used a “micronite” filter – used crocidolite asbestos. Ouch…
#19 – silica was the more fraudulent. Judge Jacks down in Texas basically ended “the next asbestos” by not putting up with the plaintiff bar’s fraud. Got a doc or two put in jail too.
Weitz and Luxenberg – a real NY powerhouse, bought their way out of trouble when they were caught back dating materials to beat the SOL in NY litigation (they had a guy who was sleeping with a court clerk get her to back time stamp some complaints…W&L just paid a fine).
“Blue asbestos” – crocidolite, an amphibole form, very bad news.
“Red asbestos” – amostie, an amphibole, also really ungood.
“White asbestos” – chrysotile, still not sure it can cause mesothelioma, but it can give you asbestosis for sure.
Tremolite – an asbestiform contaminant of chrysotile and talc, of all things. I’ve seen people in the plaintiff’s bar and defense bar try to raise the boogey-man of killer asbestos laden baby powder…gah.
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What a hot topic. Great debate here. Thanks