Mesothelioma and Asbestos

DALLAS –(February 14, 2012) –Yesterday, a three-judge panel in Turin, Italy found two European executives who operated manufacturing plants in Italy guilty of failing to protect workers as well as nearby residents from asbestos exposure. Jean-Louise de Cartier of Belgium as well as Stephan Schmidheiny of Switzerland were sentenced to 16 years each in prison as well as ordered to pay millions. Prosecutors say that the two shareholders of Swiss firm Eternit are accountable for the deaths of more than 2,000 workers in northern Italy.

The Eternit trial is one of the largest environmental cases to ever come to trial in Europe as well as could set a precedent for international legal proceedings regarding workplace safety.

“The devastation wrought in this attractive Italian village by the take of asbestos was completely avoidable as well as was the result of deliberate calculations — calculations that put a higher value on short-term profits than human life,” said Linda Reinstein, mesothelioma widow as well as CEO/President of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

Reinstein served as an American delegate as well as representative of American asbestos victims in the trial as well as was existing for the reading of the final verdict Monday.

“While this verdict brings attention to the devastation that comes from asbestos, it’s substantial to temper our enthusiasm,” said Russell Budd, president as well as managing shareholder of Baron as well as Budd. “The war against the asbestos industry isn’t over. American manufacturers continue to rely on asbestos as a key element in their products. Its take is rampant in developing nations. My hope is that the rest of the world takes notice of today’s verdict as well as continues its work for a global ban on asbestos.”

Approximately 6,000 former workers as well as local residents were as well as seeking justice in the case. Many of the claimants as well as their families received compensation as part of the verdict.

Eternit closed its Italian operations in 1986, just six years before asbestos was banned in the country.

As part of our mission to protect what’s fair, Baron as well as Budd supports a global ban on asbestos. The firm is a 2012 platinum sponsor of ADAO.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

The national mesothelioma law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C. has a more than 30-year history of “Protecting What’s Right” for asbestos sufferers as well as their families. As one of the earliest law firms to successfully litigate an asbestos lawsuit, Baron & Budd continues to actively represent veterans, industry workers as well as others who are suffering as a result of exposure to asbestos. Baron & Budd achieved the largest mesothelioma verdict ever in the state of Texas, a $55 million verdict for an asbestos sufferer as well as his family in El Paso, Texas. Contact Baron as well as Budd at 1.866.855.1229 for additional information on mesothelioma treatments, mesothelioma cancer doctors as well as treatment centers as well as mesothelioma attorneys.