 NEW YORK, New York, March 18, 2013 - The national mesothelioma law firm of Levy Konigsberg LLP (“LK”) announced today that Attorney and Navy Veteran has joined the firm to further assist veterans and their families recover compensation in asbestos claims. Each year over 3000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive terminal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Sadly, approximately one-third of those diagnosed are military veterans that were exposed to the dangers of asbestos while honorably serving in our armed forces. Due to the long latency period associated with mesothelioma (20 to 50 years on average), veterans discharged decades ago are getting sick today.Veterans serving in all branches of the military may have been exposed to asbestos due to the military’s prevalent use of the deadly fiber from the 1930’s through the 1970’s. Indeed, the deadly material was used to insulate navy ships and submarines and asbestos was also used in the production of hundreds of component and repair parts such as such as valves, packing, adhesives, cables and gaskets. Despite information available to both the United States Navy and product manufacturers, asbestos continued to be used on Navy ships and installations for many decades without any warning being provided to Navy sailors or shipyard workers.Service members of the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard also may have been exposed to asbestos. While the use of most asbestos products in the United States was discontinued in the late 1980’s, hundreds of military installations were left with asbestos flooring, ceiling tiles, insulation, asbestos cement, roofing materials, wires and other building materials. Asbestos materials were also used in military vehicles and aircraft in the form of brakes, gaskets, wiring and insulation. Service men and women were often called on to remove and dispose of asbestos products during building renovations and vehicle maintenance. The closure and dismantling of military installations across the country and the decommissioning of ships and aircraft also potentially exposed more recent generations of service men and women to the hazards of asbestos. The men and women currently serving in the Middle East are also potentially exposed to asbestos due to the use of asbestos products in buildings that have been damaged or destroyed during the war. |
