The Human Toll of Asbestos

Since the 1920s, corporate executives knew that asbestos injured and killed those who were exposed to it, but continued to make money off of the deadly fibers. Now, hundreds of thousands of workers, veterans, and consumers have died or will die from diseases that result from asbestos exposure.

Pending legislation on Capitol Hill would take away the legal rights of these families without providing a workable alternative system to compensate them. Every major asbestos victims organization opposes this bailout legislation. Below are the stories of four families that are advocates for fair legislation that puts the interests of victims and their families first.

James Gallagher Deserved Better

August 1— James Gallagher died from asbestos poisoning. Now, his wife Rita is one of the many victims of asbestos speaking out against proposed legislation that would make it impossible for families to have their day in court. Read his story

Paul Zygielbaum Could Be Left with Nothing

May 3— Paul Zygielbaum of Santa Rosa, CA was diagnosed with mesothelioma in early 2004 at the age of 53. He was exposed to asbestos on multiple occasions, including as a child from fibers on his father’s work clothes and then again while working in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Due to his cancer, Paul has had to take a lot of time off work and cut back on his hours. His disease, loss of income and increasing medical expenses are taking a huge toll on his family. Paul cannot get health insurance and so his wife has had to go back to work to help pay the bills.

Although Paul has cancer from his multiple exposures to asbestos, he may not qualify for compensation from the proposed trust fund under the strict requirements in the proposed bill. Victims like Paul must show an arbitrary 5+ years of substantial on-the-job exposure, even though there is no minimum level of exposure required to become ill. Paul says, “I feel that I've already been robbed of many years of potential life, and that now I'm being robbed of compensation for my lost earnings and potential medical expenses.” Read more about Paul and his family.

Their Lives Were Not Frivolous: W.R. Grace Wrecks A Family

February 22— Brothers Dayton and Donald Prouty both died of mesothelioma cancer after working at a W.R. Grace plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Dayton described the plant where he and his brother worked as “like a snowstorm of dust.” Dayton is survived by his wife and “best friend,” Bonnie Prouty, their three sons, and five grandchildren. Today Bonnie and her sister-in-law Marieluise are speaking out against efforts to bail out the the company responsible for their husbands’ deaths. Read more.

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Billie Joe Speicher Testifies

January 11— Billie Joe Speicher from Ontario, California is a human face on the asbestos issue. Exposed when he was an aircraft mechanic in the U. S. Marine Corps and as a pipe fitter for nearly 30 years, Mr. Speicher has mesothelioma, a fatal cancer always caused by exposure to asbestos. He testified that a proposed bill to bailout asbestos companies would penalize him by taking away compensation for his disability, medical costs and a death benefit that he is entitled to under state law. Mr. Speicher also called for more funding for research into mesothelioma. Read his full testimony.