Archive
February FACTs
February 3, 2016, Washington D.C. –
Ahh Washington politics. If you missed the Senate Judiciary Hearing on the FACT Act, it’s available online. It is titled The Need for Transparency in the Asbestos Trusts (click the title to watch).
I find it particularly amusing, there is no hearing on The Need for the United States to Ban the Use/Import of Asbestos. Instead, Senators like Jeff Flake & Orrin Hatch, would rather misdirect Congress and the people of the United States to “transparency” in legal matters, than address the fact that a toxic substance has not been banned in our country. Flake and Hatch are doing NOTHING to stop the USE of asbestos. Instead they are pandering to a large group of businesses who don’t want to pay into the Trusts set up for dying patients, with terminal disease because asbestos laced products are still available.
Let’s cut through the bullshit. Had Congress banned companies and the military from using asbestos, or banned the use/importation of asbestos across the board, there would be fewer people trying to pull money from these scared Trusts. Had business owners been more interested in keeping their employees safe, than their pockets lined, this would be less of an issue now.
Where is the Transparency in corporate use of asbestos? Senator Blumenthal made an excellent point. Why isn’t there a map of it’s use? The people who used it? This so called “FACT Act” wants a list of victims, and medical & legal histories, and social security numbers – but heaven forbid there would be a list of who used and who continues to use asbestos and where.
I’m nearly 100% sure the republicans who have signed on to this bill have no connections to asbestosis or Mesothelioma. Not one of them understands how it is to be repeatedly misdiagnosed, to have no where to turn especially early on, any idea of the support groups out there or how much it will cost to go through life saving measures – that 9 times out of 10 – won’t save you. If they did, if they were part of this special group that no one wants to join, they would fight for the victims and not the companies who created this problem.
No one was watching, but I live tweeted during the hearing. I point out a few things I felt are very important to know going forward. No one responded, not from any office. Certainly not from Thom Tillis’ campaign, who I’m ashamed to admit is from the state I currently call home. After repeatedly asking him to oppose the FACT Act, not only has he signed on, but he felt it necessary to ask questions in support of the FACT Act, not to garner any new information.
I wish Congress Republics (and the few Democrats abstaining) would stop blaming the victims and fight for a real ban on asbestos. The subterfuge has got to stop.
Five Weitz & Luxenberg Asbestos Lawyers Accustomed to Court Success Vie for Victories on Different Stage – a Beachside Cross-Country Course During Charity Race
New York City (PRWEB) January 25, 2012 read the original release
The Miles for Meso 8k Run, to be held Feb. 12 in Boca Raton, Fla., offers five of Weitz & Luxenberg’s mesothelioma lawyers an opportunity to educate the public about a deadly form of asbestos-linked cancer and to raise money to help find a cure for it. Proceeds from the 8k race and a two-mile ‘Tribute Walk’ will benefit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a cancer research affiliate in Alexandria, VA.
The kinds of battles asbestos attorneys at are accustomed to winning ordinarily take place in the courtroom, but, 
on Feb.12, a quintet of asbestos litigators will try their collective hand at winning a different kind of contest – an 8-kilometer charity run that is a part of a fundraising event whose goal is curing mesothelioma, Weitz & Luxenberg co-founder Arthur Luxenberg today announced.
The 8k run will take place in Boca Raton, Fla., and is being organized by Larry Davis, a mesothelioma survivor and a prominent advocate of asbestos awareness. The race is part of the Miles for Meso fundraiser, which will raise money for mesothelioma research.
“We are honored to take part in sponsoring the Miles for Meso event,” said Luxenberg. “Promoting mesothelioma research is a huge priority. There are so many promising advancements in the field, but very little funding to support them. We want Weitz & Luxenberg to be a part of the push that will find a cure for mesothelioma.”
Money raised by the Miles for Meso event will benefit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. MARF is an organization committed to funding research that seeks to cure mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Luxenberg said that the firm, a platinum sponsor of the event, will make a direct donation to MARF.
In addition, Weitz & Luxenberg will sponsor five attorneys who will represent the firm at a mesothelioma research symposium taking place the day before the race and then run in the main event the next morning.
Len Feldman, who heads Weitz & Luxenberg’s asbestos practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, will participate in the 8k, along with Daniel Blouin and Samuel Meirowitz, mesothelioma attorneys in the firm’s New York office.
Cindy Saxey, an attorney in Weitz & Luxenberg’s Los Angeles office, will also run in the 8k, while Kevin Mulderig, an asbestos lawyer in the New Jersey office, himself a veteran exposed to asbestos, will participate in the two-mile benefit walk.
An experienced associate in Weitz & Luxenberg’s asbestos litigation unit who also runs a sub-5:00 minute mile, Blouin explained the significance of the race to his firm. “This race is about coming out and supporting the pillars of this vibrant community,” said Blouin. “The survivors, the families, the doctors – these people bring an amazing amount of energy to everything they do. Contributing to their labors is an honor.”
Race organizer Larry Davis, who in addition to his work with fundraising is a longtime member of the South Florida running community, joined forces with Weitz & Luxenberg this fall in a partnership to spread awareness about mesothelioma and raise money to help cure it.
Luxenberg said of Davis, “Larry is an amazing ally for our firm, and I am honored to support his event. His voice has given so many people hope. It’s not just about raising money for research grants; Larry changes the way people think. With Larry there is never even the slightest thought of giving up – his boundless energy is always channeled into a positive, proactive search for a cure.”
A symposium the evening before the race will feature several prominent speakers involved in mesothelioma research, including Kathy Wiedemer, MARF’s CEO, and Linda Reinstein, president and CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a nonprofit in Los Angeles whose goal is the elimination of commercial asbestos use.
Several physicians who are leaders in the field of mesothelioma treatment will not only speak at the symposium but run in the 8k race. Participating will be Dr. H. Richard Alexander, associate chairman for clinical research at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center; Dr. Raja Flores, chief of thoracic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City; and Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj of the South Florida Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Institute.
The race, schedule to start at 7:30 Sunday morning, will be hosted by the Runner’s Edge foundation, a nonprofit organization in Boca Raton dedicated to promoting physical fitness for people across all age groups. The nearly five mile course runs through Spanish River Park between Boca Raton’s Intracoastal waters and the Atlantic coast.
While Weitz & Luxenberg’s attorneys and other members of the research community will participate in the event mostly to raise money and awareness, several elite cross country professionals are expected to attend as well.
About Weitz & Luxenberg
Founded in 1986 by attorneys Perry Weitz and Arthur Luxenberg, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., today ranks among the nation’s leading law firms. Weitz & Luxenberg’s numerous litigation areas include: mesothelioma, defective medicine and devices, environmental pollutants, accidents, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Victims of accidents are invited to rely on Weitz & Luxenberg’s more than 20 years of handling such cases – begin by contacting the firm’s Client Relations department at 1-800-476-6070 or at clientrelations(at)weitzlux(dot)com and ask for a free legal consultation. More information: http://www.weitzlux.com
‘South Florida Miles for Meso’ Sun Sentinel Article
Courtesy the Sun Sentinel/Palm Beach edition – with special thanks to photographer Gina Fontana (I’ll post the actual article when I have it scanned)
The third annual “South Florida Miles for Meso 8K & 2M Tribute Walk,” benefiting the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, will take place on Feb. 12 at Spanish River Park located in Boca Raton.
Pompano Beach resident and avid runner, Larry Davis, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006, will host the race.
Each year nearly 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.
After a latency period of 10 to 50 years, the cancer invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart.
There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma.
This year Davis will team up with the Runner’s Edge Foundation (REF) to help promote healthy living.
REF promotes running and physical fitness for people of all ages. The foundation also supports groups and organizations in pursuit of running and physical fitness through teams, programs, competitions and educational means.
“My stepmother passed away a few years ago from cancer after a very long and difficult battle. I was very close to her and seeing Larry in a difficult cancer battle is something close to me … while I can never truly understand, I can support his fight,” said REF creator, Tom Vladimir.
A post-race party will include an awards ceremony, food, beverages, bounce house and more. To register for the race, visit http://www.Active.com.
A pre-race mesothelioma symposium will take place on Feb. 11th at the Hilton Hotel Deerfield/Boca from 3 to 7 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet leading experts in mesothelioma cancer research.
For more information about the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, visit http://www.curemeso.org.
(L-R) Ken Butalewicz, Susie Simms, John May and Courtney May, 11.------Special to the Sun-Sentinel, Photo by Gina Fontana
Some Good News In My Battle With Mesothelioma
On Tuesday the 11th I returned from the University of Maryland Greenbaum Cancer Center
the view from my room
where my main doctor is H Richard Alexander. Dr Alexander reviewed my MRI with the Radiology Chief and confirmed that the combination of Carboplatin and Alimta has actually shrunk the size of many of my abdominal tumors. I was about to blow off any further treatment using dangerous Chemo with it awful side effects. It has opened the door for further surgery and a possible clinical trial with Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj.
Action Against Asbestos 