A Colorado woman suffering from mesothelioma is seeking compensation for her physical pain and mental anguish.

Joann Dennett worked for 50 years in various positions she believes caused the mesothelioma by exposing her to loose asbestos fibers.  In the suit, she names 73 corporations whose products or environments contained the dangerous carginogen.

Dennett's attorneys claim that the employers failed to warn employees about the risks of asbestos and continued to use the material even when substitutes were available.  The companies also neglected to inform workers of proper handling and hygiene techniques pertaining to asbestos.  Moreover, Dennett has tried but has been unable to locate documents regarding asbestos-use among her former employers.  She suspects these documents were destroyed and has noted this as an impairment to her case.

Because of her illness, Dennett can no longer work.  She is seeking compensation for lost income and medical expenses.  Some of the defendants include Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, International Paper, MetLife, Monsanto, and Pfizer.

Yesterday, a $10 million verdict against Ford Motor Company was overturned in Texas.

Carolyn Miller died at age 54 from mesothelioma; she was exposed to asbestos fibers that clung to her father's clothing when he returned from work. He was employed by Ford on and off for over a decade, where he worked directly with asbestos. In 2001, Carolyn, her father, and her husband were awarded $10 million in damages from Ford. Now, an appellate court ruled that because Carolyn never entered Ford property, the company is not responsible for her asbestos exposure. They court also revoked Carolyn's father's award, claiming that he "only might" develop cancer.

In overturning the decision, this appellate court is doing a significant injustice to a family whose daughter unexpectedly and suddenly died as a direct result of asbestos exposure. It is likely that Carolyn's father will experience health complications caused by the asbestos, and revoking his settlement will substantially limit his medical treatment options. Companies should be ready to take full responsibility for overlooking the dangers of asbestos and failing to use safe substitutes. To read the full story, click here.

On Tuesday, a state appellate court in New Jersey overturned the decision of a lower court in ruling that Navy workers who were employed on ships in Spain can sue an American company for asbestos-related illnesses they developed. The lawsuit was filed in 2004 against Owens-Illionois Inc. of New Jersey for producing asbestos-laden insulation.

Previously, the case had been dismissed on grounds that the injuries occurred overseas and not in New Jersey. Spanish courts, however, would not hear the claim because the injuries occurred on sovereign U.S. territory: the Navy warships.

The appellate decision, written by Appellate Judge Anthony J. Parrillo, said the lower court judge should have given more consideration to the workers' choice of court. Parrillo insists that Owens-Illionois will not be overburdened by the case because key evidence relating to the sale of asbestos to the U.S. military is more accessible and readily available in America.

On Friday, workers in Tokyo filed a 6.6 billion yen (about 444 million U.S. dollars) class action lawsuit against the government and manufacturers who, they believe, were responsible for causing asbestos-related disease. The plaintiffs claim that the government and manufacturers knew of the dangers of asbestos inhalation but failed to take proper precautions, including ceasing to promote asbestos as a cheap fire retardant and banning production of the material.

The claim states that after working among asbestos, 172 employees developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or have died as a result of exposure. They charge the government with failing to react quickly to international asbestos warnings issued in 1972. "We will do our utmost until we win the suit," said Kazuo Miyajima, 78, who heads the group of plaintiffs.

A recent article states, "After a 2005 revelation that residents who lived near a factory in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture developed diseases related to asbestos, the government implemented a law in 2006 which provides monetary assistance to asbestos victims and relatives of deceased family members. The plaintiffs argue that the amount of financial assistance given to families and victims of asbestos-related diseases is not sufficient."

A Texas woman suffering from mesothelioma is blaming her father's employers for her exposure to asbestos.

Cynthia Leigh Chason named at least three defendants she believed caused her father to work among asbestos. Cynthia suspects that he was exposed to asbestos consistently for about 20 years, and during this time brought fibers home on his clothing. He worked for Marathon Petroleum Company and as a contractor at BASF Corporation and shipyards.

The claim states Chason "was exposed to large quantities of asbestos from the products and/or machinery manufactured, sold, designed, supplied, distributed, mined, milled relabeled, resold, processed, applied, or installed by the above-named Defendants."