ASBESTOS IN THE NEWS
Libby, Mont., residents receive Federal health services today after government declares a public emergency

Federal health services arrive in Libby, Mont., where more than 200 residents have died from asbestos exposure.

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of asbestos-injured workers since 1986. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients injured by occupational asbestos exposure.

News bulletin

November 16, 2009 - Residents of Libby, Mont., battling asbestos-related disease will start receiving federally funded medical care and federal health screenings today.

To date, asbestos contamination in the Libby area has led to the deaths of more than 200 people and the illnesses of more than 1,000 more.

“Help has arrived on the ground for folks in Libby who are victims of asbestos-related disease,” said Montana Senator Max Baucus in a statement. “These services are a result of a long fight to get Libby residents the resources they need to move forward toward a bright future.”

The medical services will be funded by a $6-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after government leaders declared a public health emergency in Libby, where a former vermiculite mine has left widespread asbestos contamination.

Disproportionate cancer rate

Federal health assessments have shown than lung cancer rates are 30 percent higher among Libby residents than in the general population.

The rate of malignant mesothelioma, a deadly asbestos-related cancer that kills some 3,000 Americans every year, is very high for a community with a population of less than 10,000.

“It’s imperative that people exposed to vermiculite asbestos get screened to identify any asbestos-related disease,” Baucus said. “If diagnosed with asbestos-related disease, Libby residents deserve the best treatment possible.”

Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free case review, please notify us through the communication form on this page. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Please know, the firm works on a contingency basis so there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or reach a settlement in your favor.