Mesothelioma Patient Inspires Fundraisers

Several friends have been gathering Sunday evenings to prepare delicious meals as part of “Cook for the Cure,” a charitable group organized to raise money for mesothelioma patient Shanna Kurtz.

Though members from Cook for the Cure have been meeting for only a month, the group has raised more than $1,100. The money collected will be donated to help with Kurtz’s mounting medical expenses.

Diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma 10 years ago at the age of 20, Kurtz was told by her doctors that 80 percent of mesothelioma patients pass away soon after diagnosis. Kurtz preferred to look at this information in a more positive light and focused on becoming part of the 20 percent who survived longer.

Core members of Cook for the Cure include Gay Wickham, Cheri Travis and Kelly Young, three Texas women who get together to prepare food such as chicken tetrazzini, tortilla soup, Thai shrimp curry and gazpacho. In exchange for a casserole or entrée, the group asks for a donation to help with Kurtz’s medical bills.

The women have also joined with others in Kurtz’s hometown of Cuero, Texas. The women helped sponsor a 33-mile bike ride and barbeque on May 16, 2009. A $30 entry fee for bike riders was collected to contribute to Kurtz’s mesothelioma treatments.

Kurtz is a decorator and is actively involved in community charities. She recently managed Project Cinderella, a prom held for underprivileged children. The event provided attendees with a prom dress or tuxedo, make up for girls and dinner for two.

“Her zeal for life is infectious,” said Wickham of Kurtz. The organization hopes to help alleviate the burden of mounting medical expenses incurred after extended hospital visits due to Kurtz’s mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with the disease annually in the United States.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Mesothelioma Patient, U.S. Navy Machinist Receives $12 Million in Asbestos Lawsuit

A mesothelioma patient and former United States Navy machinist won $12.1 million in damages after filing a lawsuit against a manufacturer and supplier of an asbestos-contaminated product.

Charles H. Cundiff, 66, was awarded $10 million May 6, 2009 by a Los Angeles County jury for pain and suffering and $506,000 in economic damages for lost wages. Cundiff’s wife received $1.5 million for loss of consortium.

Following five days of deliberation, the jury ruled that manufacturer John Crane, Inc. and supplier Lone Star Industries failed to warn Cundiff of the health risks associated with asbestos-contaminated insulating cement known as Insulag. The cement was delivered to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where Cundiff worked for nine months on the USS Kitty Hawk during a four-year tour of duty from 1962 through 1966.

During a nine-month overhaul on the vessel at the shipyard, Cunditt cleaned, repaired and replaced valves, gaskets, pumps and packings and used Insulag cement in two engine rooms. While working aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, Cunditt was exposed to large amounts of asbestos dust and wore no protective equipment to prevent inhalation or ingestion of toxic asbestos fibers.

Cundiff, a retired truck driver, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer that affects the lining of many body organs and cavities, known as the mesothelium. The cancer develops after asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs, causing inflammation or infection. Symptoms of the disease typically lay dormant for decades after initial asbestos exposure occurred, allowing the cancer to progress to later stages of development.

A partner of the law firm representing Cundiff noted, “Charles Cundiff’s integrity won the day. His courage and tenacity give hope to other Navy families facing the deadly course of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.”

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos litigation may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Largest Asbestos Penalty Issued for Iowa

According to a news release issued by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, Equitable L.P. has been forced to pay a $500,000 fine for failing to perform safe asbestos renovations while working on the historic Equitable Building in downtown Des Moines.

“This is the largest civil penalty by far in Iowa for asbestos violations,” said Miller. “We alleged Equitable L.P. completely ignored asbestos-handling requirements during renovations from 2005 to 2007, until the Iowa Department of Natural Resources became involved.”

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was widely used in construction materials before the 1980s. Heavy use of this mineral has caused great concern for the construction industry as exposure to the toxic substance can cause sarcomatoid mesothelioma and other serious illnesses.

State and federal laws regulating asbestos have very strict requirements for handling asbestos-containing materials during demolition and renovations. Asbestos becomes hazardous as soon as its microscopic fibers become airborne, allowing the particles to be inhaled.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Richard Leopold believes the $500,000 civil penalty underscores the importance of properly handling and disposing asbestos-containing materials.

“What’s important to remember is that asbestos poses potentially serious health implications and that we do not have a situation like this happen again,” Leopold said. “This enforcement action should serve as a warning that the regulations relating to asbestos removal and disposal will be vigorously enforced.”

The Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges that Equitable L.P failed to do the following: inspect for asbestos, provide notice to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, remove asbestos-containing material before renovation, properly handle asbestos-containing material during renovation, or properly dispose of the material.

After a complaint was filed about the renovation project in 2007, the DNR ordered Equitable L.P. to stop activities until all floors were thoroughly inspected by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. However, Equitable L.P. continued renovations in violation of the order.

The DNR then issued a second Notice of Violation in 2008 for failing to comply with the previous order. After that, the renovations were completed in 2008 without any additional violations.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Uncontained asbestos can present a serious hazard to those in the area, and despite whether a person’s exposure may be limited or extreme, they may still be at risk for illness later in life. Symptoms of an asbestos-related illness can take as long as 10 years or more to develop.