Asbestos cancer attorneys filed a lawsuit against 44 different corporations on behalf of the wife of a deceased mesothelioma patient. The lawsuit was filed on July 11, 2008.

The mesothelioma cancer lawsuit claims that the companies conspired to mine and distribute asbestos products despite knowing the dangers of the product. The companies allegedly knew that the products would be sold on the market without being inspected.

The deceased husband of the plaintiff was exposed to high levels of asbestos during his employment. Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer, which is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

The asbestos cancer lawyers are seeking compensation for in plaintiff for medical expenses, mental anguish and physical pain and suffering.

On July 3, 2008, a retired teacher pled guilty to violating federal regulations in an asbestos case. Asbestos cancer attorneys brought the charges against the Montana teacher after he had students remove asbestos floor tiles without protective equipment.

The teacher did not notify the Environmental Protection Agency of the asbestos removal.

The asbestos floor tiles were removed by special education students enrolled in a vocational program. They were not provided with proper protective equipment and the asbestos debris were not properly disposed.

Asbestos attorneys representing the families of the students filed a lawsuit against the school. The school settled with the asbestos cancer lawyers for over $200,000 per student.

According of federal regulations, material that contains asbestos should be separated and labeled as hazardous material. It should be disposed of at approved disposal sites.

            The American Association for Justice (AAJ) conducted an extensive investigation to determine the worst insurance companies in America.  These include homeowners and auto insurers, health insurers, life insurers, and disability insurers. 

            According to AAJ, Allstate is placed at the top of the worst insurance provider list; this is largely due to the fact that their primary mission is to “earn a return for the shareholders.”  As a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) said, “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims.”  Allstate even goes so far as to distribute corporate training manuals explaining how to avoid payments, and portable refrigerators are awarded to the adjusters who deny the most claims.  Former employees have called Allstate’s approach to claims the “three D’s”: deny, delay, and defend. 

            The top 10 list produced by AAJ, includes the following insurance companies:

                      Profits                          Assets

Allstate           $4.6 billion                   $156.4 billion

Unum             $679 million                  $52.4 billion

AIG               $6.2 billion                   $1.06 trillion

State Farm      $5.5 billion                   $181.4 billion

Conseco         $179.9 million               $33.5 billion

WellPoint        $3.2 billion                   $51.6 billion

Farmers           $5.6 billion                   $387.7 billion

UnitedHealth    $4.7 billion                   $53.5 billion

Torchmark       $527.5 million               $15.2 billion

Liberty Mutual  $1.5 billion                   $94.7 billion

            It seems that the insurance industry has lost sight of the policyholders, and as Allstate’s CEO said, they have “begun to think and act more like a consumer products company.”  However, pro-consumer insurance reforms are being pushed, among these are: requiring insurers to work in good faith with consumers, requiring prior approval of rate increases, and establishing an insurance consumer advocate.

            Do not assume that because you are purchasing insurance you will always be protected, and keep these names in mind the next time you purchase insurance.  For more information on AAJ’s findings, and more specific information regarding individual companies, read the full report at http://www.justice.org/docs/TenWorstInsuranceCompanies.pdf