Note: Names have been changed to retain the anonymity of the entities/individual.
Norman was 56 years old when he passed away due to a rare cancer known as mesothelioma. Norman had been working as a construction worker for ABC Corporation in Ohio Valley for 14 years. In February 1995, during his shift on a joint compound at a construction site, Norman collapsed with shortness of breath, chest pains, and persistent cough. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with metastatic mesothelioma. He had no clue that the asbestos-filled air that he breathed in daily as part of his job was in fact, the cause of this fatal mesothelioma cancer. This was the beginning of a long and painful battle with mesothelioma cancer.
Stunned by the shocking diagnosis of his mesothelioma, Norman and his family went to a local cancer center to find treatment and get more knowledge regarding the disease. They researched different therapies and cures for this cancer and learned about various conventional, integrated and alternative treatments. But much to their disappointment, the costs for the complete course of treatments were high and the possibility of full recovery was negligible.
To make the matters worse, Norman had a family of 5 – including 3 daughters and 1 son – to look after and was told he needed complete bed rest. He often complained to doctors about not feeling sick to which he received the tragic responses, “You will, soon”. And then there were tears of the family members to deal with, who felt vulnerable and full of despair about Norman’s condition.
A few weeks later, Norman saw a ray of hope. His wife read an article on the internet while investigating the disease. With this article, Norman came to know that the company where he had been exposed to asbestos was to be taken to the Court in asbestos lawsuit. In the following month, Norman hired legal expertise of a reputable law firm and filed a case against ABC Corporation.
The case went to trial on 15th April, 1995 and resulted in a significant verdict in favor of Norman, his wife and children. He received $3,980,655.00 from ABC Corporation after deducting the attorney’s fees and expenses. With that money, Norman went to have a surgery followed by chemotherapy that increased his chances of survival. But sadly, after a heroic three-year fight, Norman lost his battle with mesothelioma in July 1998. |
