Houston Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawyer
Gilde Law Firm’s roots began in Asbestos/Mesothelioma litigation. We represent clients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other forms of cancer and who have been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. One of the biggest challenges with mesothelioma and asbestos litigation is that years go by between the initial exposure to asbestos and the visible signs and diagnosis of mesothelioma. This problem is increased by the fact that mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that often goes unrecognized for too long, allowing it to spread and do much greater damage in the body. Contact our experienced Houston Asbestos & Mesothelioma lawyers for more information today.
Asbestos and Its History
Asbestos is a name or term used to describe a set of six naturally-occurring silicate minerals that is mined from the earth, which set includes the following:
- Chrysotile
- Amosite
- Crocidolite
- Tremolite
- Anthophyllite
- Actinolite
Asbestos’ physical structure and attributes makes it desirable for industrial and commercial purposes. Asbestos is desirable for its sound absorption, tensile strength, binding properties, resistance to fire, resistance to heat, resistance to electrical and chemical damage, and its affordability – given that it is naturally occurring. While advantageous for industrial and commercial purposes, asbestos’ physical structure and chemical composition is deadly to humans and is a known human carcinogen.
Once praised as the “magic mineral,” asbestos was abundantly used in the US marketplace from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Asbestos’ prevalence was seen in almost every industry and countless products including but not limited to the following:
Industry Products Ship Building & Shipyards Insulation Floor Tiles Metal Works Pipe Covering Ceiling Tiles Manufacturing Plants Gaskets Drywall Power Plants Packing Boards Chemical Plants Asbestos brick/block Joint Compound Paper Mills Asbestos clothing Paint Railroad Cooling Towers Roofing felt and shingles Construction Drilling mud Adhesives Automotive Acid-resistant pipe Fireproofing materials Oil and Gas Refineries Asbestos-cement pipe Brakes Boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, engines, and other machinery calling for use of asbestos-containing products Cigarette Filters Fertilizer
Despite its many uses and prevalence, asbestos was largely phased-out of the market place towards the late 1970s, due to its hidden dangers. However, asbestos is not totally banned in the US, though it is banned in other industrialized nations including many countries in the European Union.
What makes asbestos especially dangerous is many-fold. First, asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, unless in significant quantities. It has been said that if one took a spoon-full of raw asbestos fibers and placed the fibers end to end, the fibers would reach the moon. Clearly, even a small exposure is a significant one. Second, asbestos has no “onion” properties that would alert an exposed person that he or she is being exposed to asbestos. Third, given its virtual indestructibility and carcinogenicity, asbestos is difficult to remove. Finally, although not all exposures to asbestos result in an asbestos-caused disease, the time from first exposure to onset of disease is typically 30 to 40 years.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is known as a “signal tumor” or “signature disease,” which means that if you have mesothelioma, you have been exposed to asbestos. But, asbestos has been linked to causing other forms of cancer and non-malignant disease, which include the following:
- Mesothelioma (“signal tumor” or “signature disease” – indisputable link)
- Lung Cancer with or without smoking history (very strong link)
- Adenocarcinoma (Non Small Cell) – most prevalent
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma – second most prevalent
- Large Cell Carcinoma
- Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Asbestosis (“non-malignant” – indisputable link)
- Pleural Plaques/Thickening
Mesothelioma and asbestos litigation exists because the hazards and dangers of asbestos were well known to the asbestos industry and were never communicated to the public. Asbestos is the largest toxic tort in the history of civil jurisprudence. What’s more, asbestos litigation is incredibly difficult and has endured for decades due to the industry’s denials, financial resources, and political influence. Mesothelioma and asbestos litigation requires a lawyer and law firm that has knowledge of asbestos-containing products, knowledge of pathways of exposure, the ability to assist the exposed person in recalling the exposure, proving the exposure under applicable legal standards, library of liability documents on each responsible defendant, knowledge of other forms of recovery (e.g. bankruptcy trusts), and the ability and experience to take the industry head-on in litigation.
We Believe: Mesothelioma and asbestos-caused diseases could have been prevented, absent corporate greed. We believe in this litigation, and we believe you.
We Fight: Litigation against the asbestos industry is extremely challenging and adversarial. Gilde Law Firm knows how to fight for your interests. Gilde Law Firm’s roots began in asbestos litigation.
We Win: We will work to obtain full and fair compensation for the illnesses, injuries, and property damages you have suffered as a result of the asbestos-caused disease.
Contact Our Experienced Houston Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawyers Today
Contact an experienced Houston Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawyer. Time is of the essence. Don’t delay – contact us today.
