ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

A toxic tort is a specific type of personal injury that occurs as a result of the exposure to toxic materials or chemicals. Many people are unknowingly exposed to dangerous substances at their work place and only discover the past exposure after they have been diagnosed with a serious condition associated with the toxic material.

Many people are familiar with the term “class action.” A class action lawsuit is appropriate where the claims are all the same and can be handled in one case without a party being prejudiced.  Since most toxic tort cases involve different issues related to the amount of exposure, the types of injuries being claimed, and the manner of which those damages were caused, class action treatment is usually not appropriate in toxic tort cases.

However, toxic tort cases often involve many similarities related to the liability and general causation questions, and consolidation can be effective for both parties through a mass tort program. A “mass tort” is similar to a class action in that there are procedural steps to consolidate similar claims before one Court to more efficiently litigate the case.

Typically, these cases are consolidated for the purposed of pre-trial discovery, but the case is not joined for a trial. Through pre-trial consolidation the Courts can avoid inconsistent rulings and have a more manageable discovery process.

The Lyon Firm has years of experience litigating sensitive and valuable toxic exposure cases on behalf of plaintiffs. Joe Lyon takes pride in holding companies responsible following consumer injury or workplace toxic exposure. The Lyon Firm focuses on the following practice areas:

Asbestos Exposure

Many years after the discovery of its cancer-causing potential, still one of the largest toxic tort litigation in America involves asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a toxic material that is commonly used in commercial and residential construction, and a wide variety of industrial installations because of its high resilience to heat and effective insulating properties.

Long-term exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers, however, causes serious respiratory diseases and cancers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. You can qualify for an asbestos exposure claim if you have developed cancer linked to past workplace exposure to toxins.

Roundup Exposure

A huge wave of lawsuits involving Monsanto’s iconic weedkiller, Roundup, have hit Bayer with massive verdicts, putting pressure on the company to settle thousands of claims.

Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, has been linked to an increased risk of developing leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Farmers, groundskeepers, plant nursery workers and landscapers have filed toxic tort claims, alleging that Roundup exposure led to the development of cancer. You may qualify for a Roundup lawsuit if you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukemia and have documented use of a weedkiller or pesticide in the past.

Baby Powder Asbestos Exposure

Johnson & Johnson faces thousands of cancer claims in lawsuits alleging the company’s talc and Baby Powder products were contaminated with asbestos, leading to the development of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer in many women who used the product regularly. Plaintiffs may file a claim if they have used a talcum powder product for many years and developed cancer.

Plaintiffs say the company was aware of the contamination and cancer risks decades ago but chose not to alert the public in fear of harming the company’s reputation. Many product liability lawsuits involve companies who place profit before the health of the consumer.

Benzene Exposure

Benzene exposure has been linked to AML cases nationwide. Many workers in the oil and rubber industries have fallen ill after many years of workplace exposure. Workers who have worked with rubber, PVC, vinyl chloride or other chemicals containing benzene can file a claim if they have developed cancer.

Pharmaceutical Contamination

Drug injury cases are complex, and are generally filed as part of a class. When defective drugs are recalled and patients are injured by a pharmaceutical, a toxic tort attorney may be necessary to represent victims, and to assist in recovering rightful compensation.

Drug defect injury cases are quite common and can involve drug contamination, a failure to properly perform clinical trials, dosage and labeling errors, and undisclosed side effects.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is linked to benzene exposure. Gasoline truck drivers, auto mechanics and printers have all been diagnosed with AML after occupational exposure. 

Occupational toxic tort cases are the most common because industrial workers are more likely to face long-term exposure to toxic chemicals. Workers in certain industries face a higher risk of exposure than the average person. For example, farm workers may be exposed to large amounts of pesticides, including Glyphosate, a known cancer-causing agent.

Fracking employees may be exposed to Benzene, a very dangerous substance. Workers in the steel and auto industry may have been exposed to asbestos for many years.

Yes, unfortunately. Some consumer products like aerosol deodorants and sunscreens have been recalled for having been contaminated with benzene and other toxins.