AREAS OF PRACTICE

At Landry & Swarr our attorneys focus on handling legal cases based on toxic diseases. Our primary areas of practice include:

Asbestosis

The use of asbestos has affected the lives and health of countless families throughout America. Asbestos products have been used in a wide variety of industrial settings and in many common products including: cement, insulation, brake linings, flooring products, room shingles and textiles. For many years the risks associated with asbestos were not publicly known and as a result millions of workers and their families have been exposed.

Asbestosis refers to the scarring of the lung tissue from the presence of asbestos. Asbestosis is often associated or referenced in conjunction with mesothelioma or asbestos related lung-cancer.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and often fatal form of cancer almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos dust or fibers either directly in a work setting or indirectly through casual contact or a family member.

In this disease malignant cells form in the mesothelium, a protective lining of the body’s organs. It’s most common site is the pleura, or the lining of the chest and lung cavity. It can also occur around the heart of abdomen. Identification of the disease can be difficult as its initial symptoms are often vague and the disease destroys the body brutally fast.

Family and Secondary Exposure

Unfortunately many people who have never been exposed to asbestos through work have been exposed to it in other ways. Asbestos dust can be passed on from one family member to another from the clothing and hair or by something as simple as washing their clothes together. Often times the spouses and children of family members develop asbestos related diseases as a result of coming in contact with the dust in a family setting.

Lung Cancer

The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure greatly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the airways or lungs. Smoking cigarettes does not appear to cause mesothelioma but many studies indicate that smoking IS a factor in the development of the disease. Unfortunately mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as lung cancer due to the similarity of symptoms, the rarity of mesothelioma and a common link of smoking. It is critical to consult with an attorney with asbestos experience if you have questions or concerns that you may have been misdiagnosed.

Toxic Chemicals / Benzene Exposure

Landry & Swarr’s attorneys are experienced in representing victims of benzene exposure. Because certain types of leukemia are caused by exposures to benzene that took place many years before the disease shows itself, many people diagnosed with leukemia today never realize that their disease may very well have been caused by exposures in the 1960s or 1970s. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with leukemia and suspect a history of possible benzene exposure, do not hesitate to contact us.