Asbestos Practice Overview 

Since 1972, the law firm of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., has stood as a beacon of hope for thousands of individuals and families devastated by asbestos-related diseases. Our attorneys have represented those suffering from a range of fatal and life-threatening conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other forms of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, such as cancers of the colon and larynx. 

We understand the profound impact these diagnoses have on victims and their loved ones, and we provide compassionate and effective legal representation.

A Firm’s Unwavering Commitment to Asbestos Victims

Our dedication to those harmed by asbestos is a core part of who we are. For decades, our firm has stood by individuals and families suffering from diseases linked to asbestos exposure. Our work is a tireless effort to pursue justice and secure the compensation they are entitled to. We believe that no one should have to face the consequences of corporate negligence alone, and we are here to provide comprehensive support every step of the way.

We approach each case with a profound sense of purpose. This work is not simply about legal filings or courtroom arguments; it is about providing a path forward for people whose lives have been irrevocably changed. Our commitment is a promise to advocate for the rights and well-being of every person who comes to us seeking assistance.

The Foundation of Our Work

Our firm’s foundation is built on the careers of our partner attorneys, Ed Beachler and Craig Coleman. Their professional lives have been exclusively dedicated to representing asbestos victims. This commitment is a result of a deep understanding of the unique challenges these cases present. Their collective decades of focus in this area have allowed them to develop a comprehensive command of the complexities involved in asbestos litigation.

This long-standing focus means they have built a profound knowledge base, navigating the intricacies of state and federal laws related to these claims. Their careers are a testament to their dedication to a single, critical cause: helping those affected by asbestos. They have seen firsthand the devastating impact of these diseases on countless families, and this perspective drives their continued advocacy.

A Thorough Understanding of the Science

A successful asbestos case requires more than just legal acumen; it demands a comprehensive understanding of the science behind the disease. We stay up-to-date on the latest scientific research related to asbestos and its devastating effects on the human body. This includes an appreciation for how different types of asbestos fibers interact with human cells and the biological mechanisms through which they cause illness.

This level of detail is crucial for establishing the link between exposure and diagnosis. We examine the pathology reports and medical records with care, connecting the clinical findings to the known effects of asbestos. This scientific grounding allows us to build a robust and compelling argument that leaves no room for doubt about the cause of our clients’ suffering.

Tracing a History of Exposure

Our team possesses a thorough understanding of the history of asbestos use across the United States, particularly in industrial regions like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. We have a detailed knowledge of known asbestos manufacturers and the various companies that supplied asbestos-containing products for decades. This historical context is vital for connecting a client’s diagnosis to a specific source of exposure.

Building a strong case often involves a great deal of historical investigation. We trace a person’s work history, identifying high-risk occupations and job sites where exposure was common. This meticulous approach allows us to pinpoint the specific products and companies responsible for the exposure, forming the basis for a sound legal claim. We consider this a critical step in providing accountability for past harm.

Serving All Affected Individuals

We recognize that asbestos exposure affects a wide range of people under diverse circumstances. Our firm has a long history of representing individuals from various backgrounds. We have worked with industrial workers, including those from factories, shipyards, and construction sites, who faced direct exposure on the job. We also understand the unique challenges faced by their family members who were exposed indirectly through “take-home” contamination.

These cases require a compassionate and individualized approach. We take the time to listen to each person’s story, understanding the specific details of their life and how the disease has impacted them. This client-centered perspective ensures that we address the needs of every person we represent, regardless of how or where their exposure occurred.

Navigating the Legal Landscape

The legal process can be complex and intimidating, but we provide clear, consistent guidance. We guide our clients through their legal options, explaining their rights and helping them understand the appropriate path forward. This may involve pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the companies responsible for the exposure or a wrongful death claim on behalf of a family that has lost a loved one.

For clients whose exposure is linked to a company that has filed for bankruptcy, we can help them seek compensation from established asbestos trust funds. We explain each of these avenues with clarity, allowing our clients to make informed decisions. Our role is to simplify this process, providing steady support and reliable information.

Understanding the Cost of Care

The medical landscape for asbestos-related diseases is in a state of constant evolution. We make it a point to keep up with recent developments in medical treatments, including new therapies, surgical options, and clinical trials. This knowledge allows us to better advocate for the financial resources our clients will need to manage their illness.

We understand the significant costs associated with this medical care, from diagnostic procedures to ongoing treatment and palliative care. We work to secure compensation that is sufficient to cover these expenses, helping to alleviate the financial burden on individuals and their families. Our focus is on ensuring that our clients have the means to receive the care they need for as long as they need it.

Our Approach to Client Relationships

From the very first phone call, our approach is designed to be supportive and transparent. We begin with a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the specifics of your situation. We listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide an initial assessment of your legal options. We believe in open communication throughout the entire legal process.

Our team provides regular updates and is always available to address your concerns. We handle the burden of legal filings, evidence gathering, and courtroom proceedings so you can focus on your health and your family. We are not just your legal representatives; we are your advocates.

A Legacy of Commitment

Our firm’s dedication to the asbestos community is a long-term one. The work we do is driven by a profound respect for the individuals we represent and a firm belief that the companies that caused this harm should be held accountable. Every day, we recommit to our mission of providing compassionate and effective legal assistance.

We are ready to stand with you and fight for the justice you deserve. The history of our firm is one of unwavering support for those in need, and we are proud to continue that legacy.

Your Path Forward

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the path forward may seem uncertain. We are here to provide the clarity and guidance you need. We invite you to contact us for a consultation to learn more about how we can help you. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us.

The time to seek assistance is now. Our firm is prepared to help you navigate this complex process and work toward a fair resolution. Let us be the ones to carry this burden for you. We are ready to listen, to understand, and to act on your behalf.

You can read more about these in Asbestos: Know Your Rights. 

The Scope of Asbestos-Related Diseases

It is a pervasive misconception that the threat of developing asbestos-related diseases is confined solely to primary industrial workers. In reality, the reach of this silent carcinogen is far broader, touching sectors and households previously considered safe. 

Exposure to asbestos often extends significantly beyond controlled industrial environments, permeating commercial, residential, and consumer spaces. Furthermore, a highly concerning aspect of this public health crisis is secondary or ‘take-home’ exposure. 

Family members of individuals who worked directly with asbestos materials are also fundamentally at risk, as microscopic, durable asbestos fibers can be carried home unknowingly on clothing, hair, tools, and vehicle interiors. This domestic contamination creates a pathway for diseases to develop in those who never set foot in a hazardous workplace. 

While mesothelioma and lung cancer are the most recognized and grave consequences of asbestos inhalation, a comprehensive understanding of the crisis must account for other serious conditions, including colon and laryngeal cancers, and non-malignant pleural diseases.

Mesothelioma: A Disease Caused Exclusively by Asbestos

Mesothelioma stands as a stark indicator of asbestos toxicity. It is a rare but exceptionally aggressive cancer whose sole known cause is exposure to asbestos fibers. Annually, the United States records an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new diagnoses. This malignant tumor most frequently originates in the pleura, the protective lining surrounding the lungs, resulting in pleural mesothelioma. Less common, but equally devastating, forms include peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, and in exceedingly rare instances, pericardial mesothelioma, which impacts the lining around the heart.

The insidious nature of mesothelioma is tied directly to its protracted latency period. While medical science confirms a clear dose-response relationship—where increased duration and intensity of exposure elevate the likelihood of developing the disease—the tragic reality is that even minimal, low-level asbestos exposure can be sufficient to initiate the cellular changes that lead to cancer. The interval from the point of first exposure to the clinical onset of symptoms and subsequent diagnosis is extraordinarily long, typically spanning four to six decades. This vast delay means that many victims remain unaware of their potentially fatal illness until many years after the initial contact occurred. This makes it crucial to have legal representation who can meticulously trace and document historical exposure sources across multiple decades.

Understanding the Connection to Lung Cancer

Beyond mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has been definitively and conclusively established as a causal factor for lung cancer. The corresponding risk of developing lung cancer is directly proportional to the total duration and concentration of the asbestos exposure. This correlation is particularly relevant in legal contexts.

It is a harmful and incorrect myth that a lung cancer victim who has also used tobacco products is automatically disqualified from legal recourse. The reality is that established legal representatives have successfully navigated litigation on behalf of numerous asbestos-related lung cancer victims who were also smokers. It is vital to recognize that asbestos and smoking demonstrate a synergistic effect; they amplify each other’s risk of causing lung cancer. However, the presence of one risk factor in a victim’s history does not diminish or negate the distinct liability and causation caused by the exposure to asbestos fibers. Both factors may contribute, and the asbestos exposure remains an independently compensable injury.

Other Serious Asbestos-Related Conditions

The full spectrum of asbestos-related disease extends beyond the malignant forms. Two non-cancerous but debilitating conditions—asbestosis and pleural thickening—also arise from fiber inhalation.

Asbestosis is a chronic, non-malignant respiratory disease characterized by widespread, diffuse scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue. This scarring is directly caused by the accumulation of inhaled asbestos fibers in the air sacs (alveoli). Over time, the fibrous tissue restricts the expansion and contraction of the lungs, severely reducing the organ’s elasticity and its capacity for gas exchange. Symptoms include progressively worsening shortness of breath, chronic coughing, and fatigue. Like mesothelioma, asbestosis has a long latency period, usually appearing 10 to 20 years after the initial exposure. While it is not cancer, asbestosis can lead to severe respiratory failure and significantly decrease quality of life.

Pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening represent changes to the pleura, the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Pleural plaques are localized, non-malignant areas of fibrous thickening, typically composed of collagen and calcium deposits. Diffuse pleural thickening is more extensive and can severely restrict lung movement. While pleural plaques themselves rarely cause symptoms, their presence is a clear and unequivocal biomarker of significant asbestos exposure, often serving as critical evidence in medical-legal cases.

Furthermore, mounting medical evidence has conclusively linked asbestos exposure to an elevated risk of other extracranial cancers, most notably laryngeal cancer and colon cancer. These connections suggest that ingested or translocated asbestos fibers can irritate and damage epithelial cells in other organs besides the lungs, initiating carcinogenic processes far from the initial point of inhalation.

Understanding the Connection to Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure has also been definitively and conclusively linked to lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer from asbestos exposure is directly related to the duration and intensity of the exposure. 

While smoking is another well-known risk factor for lung cancer, it is a harmful myth that a cancer victim who has also smoked has no legal recourse. Our firm has successfully litigated on behalf of many asbestos-related disease victims who were also smokers. It’s essential to understand that asbestos and smoking can have a synergistic effect, meaning they amplify each other’s risks, but the presence of one does not negate the liability caused by the other.

Widespread Exposure and Lasting Consequences

Despite medical research dating back to the 1930s that clearly showed the dangers of asbestos, millions of people continue to be exposed to this toxic substance. Asbestos was widely used in a vast range of occupations, from construction and steel to textiles, automobile manufacturing, and power generation. The consequences of this widespread use are still being felt today.

The risk of exposure extends far beyond those who worked directly with the material. We have represented not only workers but also their spouses and even their children who developed mesothelioma due to secondary exposure. The tragedy of asbestos is that its effects ripple out, harming entire families.

Our firm is committed to holding negligent companies accountable for the harm they have caused. We believe that victims and their families deserve justice and compensation for their suffering. The legal journey can be long and emotionally challenging, but with our dedicated team, you will have experienced advocates fighting for your rights every step of the way.

Other Types Of Cancer May Also Result

Once asbestos fibers enter the body, they can also cause other extremely serious forms of cancer including colon (colorectal) cancer and laryngeal or throat cancer. As with other asbestos-related diseases, it can take many years after exposure for symptoms to appear.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is not cancer, but a breathing disorder that results from inhaling asbestos fibers. The resulting scarring of the lungs makes breathing difficult. Scars known as pleural plaques, detectable by X-ray or CT scan, are the most common indicator of asbestos exposure. Asbestosis is often a precursor to the types of cancer described above, as well as heart problems and other lung damage. Anyone diagnosed with asbestosis should be closely monitored for development of mesothelioma or lung cancer.

History Of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a very rare disease. Approximately 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Asbestos causes mesothelioma and is the only established cause of mesothelioma in humans. In 1943 a study in Germany by Welder reported a case of diffuse mesothelioma in a person with asbestos exposure. Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma associated with asbestos was reported in the German literature in 1953 and 1954.

In 1960, Wagner reported 33 cases of mesothelioma in South Africa. Thirty-two (32) of the individuals had exposure to asbestos. Wagner JC. The discovery of the association between blue asbestos and mesothelioma and the aftermath. Br J Ind Med 1991; 48:399-403. In 1964 and 1965, Dr. Irving Selikoff and his colleagues at Mt. Sinai Hospital reported finding asbestos-related deaths from mesothelioma in asbestos institution workers who worked with asbestos pipe covering, block and cement. Selikoff IH, Churg J, Hammond EC. Relation between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma. N Engl Med 1965; 272:560-565. Selkoff IJ, Churg J, Hammond EC. Asbestos exposure and neoplasia. JAMA 1964; 188:22-26.

In 1965, two English physicians, Newhouse and Thompson, reported that women developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos when they shook out and laundered their husband’s asbestos contaminated work clothes. They also reported that mesothelioma were diagnosed in London in a neighborhood close to an asbestos factory. Newhouse ML, Thompson H. Epidemiology of mesothelioma tumors in the London area. Ann NY Acad Sci 1965; 132; 579-588.

Treatment Of Mesothelioma

There is currently no known cure for malignant mesothelioma, but traditional and experimental, nontraditional treatments are available.

The traditional treatment for a pleural mesothelioma may include the insertion of talc to reduce the recurrence of pleural effusions. Surgery can also be performed. The surgery can include a pleurectomy/decortication, and an extrapleural pneumonectomy. You should consult with your surgeon about these treatment options and secure a description of what is done in these surgeries, the risks and the benefits of these surgeries.

Other traditional treatments include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and can be used as the primary treatment for mesothelioma or used in conjunction with other treatments. Chemotherapy can be administered and you should consult with your oncologist about what the protocol is, as well as the risks and benefits of the chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy uses high-dose X-rays in an attempt to kill the cancer cells. This may be done in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy or alone.

Some non-traditional mesothelioma treatment options include photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. These treatments are considered experimental and you should always discuss with your physician and oncologist your plan for treatment.

The Amount Of Exposure That Causes Mesothelioma Or Cancer Is Unknown

Experienced doctors know that the more exposure a person has to asbestos, the greater the chance that he or she will develop serious asbestos-related diseases. All asbestos exposures are significant. It is the total and cumulative asbestos exposures that cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, colon cancer, laryngeal cancer and asbestosis.

Working directly with asbestos-containing materials is not the only cause and risk factor for mesothelioma. We now know — and successful lawsuits have reinforced — that second hand exposure to asbestos (such as regularly washing someone’s asbestos-tainted clothes) can have serious and deadly consequences. People who handle asbestos and those in the area of its use can develop asbestos-related diseases.

• Workers who did not handle asbestos-containing products directly, but were commonly exposed to asbestos dust in the workplace
• Family members of a father, mother, spouse or other household residents who unknowingly brought asbestos dust into the home on their clothes, hair and skin

Targeting Companies That Provided Dangerous Asbestos Products

There are many benefits to seeking counsel from attorneys who understand all the possible avenues of recovery in asbestos disease and other complex personal injury litigation. For example, having represented many victims in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and across the country we have prior knowledge of many manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products.

We will exhaustively research potential parties who were responsible for your asbestos exposure. Our firm will tirelessly work to file claims to hold these parties liable for your losses. You do not have to be concerned if you do not know which asbestos products caused your mesothelioma or other cancer. Please contact an asbestos litigation attorney at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C. Our lawyers are prepared to visit you and your family, explain legal and medical options and begin an investigation to find the answers you deserve.

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The Answers You Need, The Service You Deserve

Attorneys Beachler and Coleman have represented thousands of asbestos victims, and we take pride in the fact that many of our cases are referred to us from families we have helped in the past. We encourage you to contact us now for a free consultation to discuss your asbestos-related disease. Please call our Pittsburgh office at 866-466-5789 toll free, or send us an email using our contact form.