Back in the mid 1960’s, Crown Cork acquired a company named Mundet which manufactured various asbestos-containing products.  At the time that Crown Cork purchased Mundet, it acquired both the assets and the liabilities of Mundet.

Since that acquisition by Crown Cork, thousands of asbestos-related claims have been filed against Crown Cork.

Crown Cork (a Pennsylvania corporation) is now seeking legislation which would declare it an “innocent successor” which in turn would aid in establishing that any corporation which similarly acquired the liabilities of an asbestos manufacturer or distributer prior to 1972 would be an “innocent successor.”

In the mid 1960’s, during the time Crown Cork acquired Mundet, there were at least nine workers’ compensation claims filed against Mundet by its own employees for asbestos-related injuries between 1954 and 1963.

Further, the hazards of asbestos were well known, documented, and widely reported back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s by the medical community.

Therefore, because Mundet and Crown Cork were well aware of the hazards of asbestos at the time of the acquisition by Crown Cork of Mundet, Crown Cork was not an “innocent successor.”

Crown Cork has offered testimony before the Minnesota Legislature that it had “bad lawyer advice” at the time of the acquisition and requested this legislation be passed as soon as possible to protect them, and backed this immediate need with irresponsible statements like “This bill isn’t about Minnesota…” and “…because of Wall Street…the interest rates Wall Street is charging are killing us.”

The Minnesota Legislature should not bail out a corporation or deny anyone the right to obtain a fair and just settlement due to an asbestos-related injury or illness because of either “bad lawyer advice” or to “satisfy Wall Street.”

The fact of the matter is that here in Minnesota we’ve had an orderly system of resolving asbestos-related disputes in our courts for 25 years with a state wide asbestos judge and attorneys.  Both the plaintiffs and the defendants agree that we have a fair system here in Minnesota of adjudicating disputes.

Furthermore, what Crown Cork has told legislators versus what it told its own shareholders and the Federal regulators are in direct conflict with one another.  In its 2010 annual report to its shareholders, Crown Cork, a company with net sales of $7.9 billion and $1.2 billion in profits for 2010, told its shareholders [relating to asbestos-related claims] “while it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related claims and settlements, the company believes that resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse affect on the company’s financial position.”  Further, in its filing on October 31, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Crown Cork stated “resolution of asbestos-related claims is not expected to have a material adverse affect on the company’s financial position.”

Asbestos disease for the past 40 years has affected people from all walks of life.  Several decades ago, asbestos-related injuries predominantly affected people in our construction trades such as insulators, plasterers, sheet metal workers, pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians and plumbers.  However, asbestos injuries affect people who have never worked with asbestos such as wives who wash their husband’s clothes, nurses who work in hospitals which are sprayed with asbestos, Navy and other military veterans who sailed on our country’s ships which were filled with asbestos, and innocent neighbors who happen to live nearby an asbestos manufacturing facility.

The pernicious aspect of asbestos-related injuries is that it typically takes several decades from the time you are exposed to the asbestos until the time you get sick from it.  Because of this “lag time,” it is indeed very difficult to prove asbestos-related claims because evidence of which asbestos products one was exposed to that long ago is very difficult to gather.  In addition, over the past several years, many asbestos manufacturers have sought bankruptcy protection.

Asbestos-related diseases include a cancer known as mesothelioma, which is always fatal, usually within a year or two.  Other asbestos-related injuries include asbestosis (which ends up strangling the victim), and diseases which scar down the outside covering of the lungs preventing proper breathing.

As you can imagine, the medical expenses for chemotherapy, radiation, medicine, surgery, and chest x-rays are enormous and often amount to several hundred thousand dollars.

The opportunity of a citizen in Minnesota to go to court and request that the manufacturer/distributors of asbestos products which resulted in their medical expenses will be further diminished with the passage of this legislation.  If allowed to pass this legislation will ultimately shift the horrendous cost of asbestos-related medical treatment to Medicare, government assistance and private health insurers, and away from those who should bear the financial burden for these product-related illnesses; the manufacturer and distributor.

Please urge your legislator to vote “no” on this legislation as it is both unnecessary and unfair. We have the judicial branch of government and the court system which already fairly adjudicates asbestos-related claims.

Similarly, Sieben Polk attorneys Michael Sieben, Michael Polk, Richard LaVerdiere, Bernie Dusich, and Michael Strom have once again been named “Super Lawyers” for 2011 as published in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business, and Minnesota Super Lawyers. Mr. Strom was further honored as “Top 100 Super Lawyers” for 2011. Mr. Sieben, Mr. Polk and Mr. LaVerdiere have also been named in the “Top 100” list in past years. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Only five percent of Minnesota lawyers are selected. Additionally, Attorneys Joshua Tuchscherer and Chad Alexander were named “Rising Stars” for 2011. Minnesota Rising Stars recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state – those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less.

The attorneys at Sieben Polk Law Firm are dedicated to helping individuals and families who have been injured. The law firm limits its practice to asbestos diseases, auto accidents, wrongful death, defective products, and medical/professional malpractice claims. The Sieben Polk Law Firm has been serving clients in Dakota County and across the state of Minnesota since 1953.

• Years of experience
• Number of motorcycle accident cases handled
• A proven track record of achieving favorable results
• A commitment to the client
• A willingness to listen

The first thing insurance companies will do is blame the motorcycle driver. If you or a loved one has been injured, you will greatly benefit from calling an experienced Minnesota motorcycle accident lawyer. Your lawyer will quickly and carefully investigate your case and advise you of your rights in order to help you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to several forms of compensation including:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Permanent injury
• Pain and suffering
• Limitations on future earnings
• Additional out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damage

If you or a family member has been injured, contact the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers in Minnesota at the Sieben Polk Law Firm for a FREE case evaluation. Call 651-437-3148 or toll free at 866-389-2540.

Firm Size
Some people feel that smaller law firms take the time to get to know them individually and to understand the specific circumstances of their case while shepherding them through the legal system. However, bigger law firms often have a greater array of resources and a larger network of contacts that can deliver better results. Ideally, you should find an office that offers the benefits of a large firm while retaining the personal touch of a smaller organization.

Legal Specialization
Your case is too important to trust to a firm using a one-size-fits-all legal defense strategy, and too complicated to handle using some advice printed off the internet. You are better off finding an attorney that routinely handles semi-truck accidents, who will also know how the region’s courts work. Although there are common legal principles involved in accidents occurring from Minnesota to Missouri, proceedings for a case in North Carolina may be handled differently from one in California.

Personal Understanding
Experienced attorneys can help you deal with the personal aftermath of a semi-truck accident even as they defend you in the legal system. As a semi-truck driver, you face unique challenges not known to ordinary motorists, from the effort you put into obtaining your commercial driving license to the extra work required to meet Federal regulations and maintain your log books. Good attorneys will be able to relate to you and your situation.

If you or a family member has been injured, contact the experienced semi-truck accident lawyers in Minnesota at the Sieben Polk Law Firm for a FREE case evaluation. Call 651-437-3148 or toll free at 866-389-2540.

When cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall, lungs, diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart, it’s known as localized malignant mesothelioma or stage I mesothelioma. This is the only localized stage of malignant mesothelioma, once past this stage the cancer has spread to areas other than the point of original exposure. Because the onset of symptoms of mesothelioma can take many years it is possible for the cancer to be past stage I by the time it’s first detected.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma (group two) has three stages. Once the malignant mesothelioma has spread to the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest, the cancer has become stage II or advanced malignant mesothelioma. Stage III of advanced malignant mesothelioma happens if the cancer spreads to the chest wall, the mediastinum, the heart, beyond the diaphragm, to the pertone, or has spread to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest. These advanced stages of the disease are more complicated to treat and much more serious. When the cancer has spread to distant organs or tissue it is elevated to stage IV. Recurrent malignant mesothelioma is cancer that has come back after it has been treated; this can happen in the chest, abdomen, and other parts of the body.

The stage of the malignant mesothelioma when discovered can play a big role in treatment and outcome. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and therefore are at risk of mesothelioma contact Seiben Polk law firm, call (651) 437-3148 or visit their web site www.siebenpolklaw.com.

In Minnesota the legal blood alcohol limit for operating a motor vehicle is .08, this or anything higher than this is considered drunk driving and the vehicle operator can be charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated). Punitive damages may be brought against a driver who is above the legal limit during an accident. In some cases liquor stores, bars, and social hosts may also be held responsible for injuries to innocent people if an accident occurs.

Drinking establishments such as bars, lounges, and restaurants where alcohol is sold and consumed are referred to as Dram Shops. Minnesota law imposes liability to such businesses that illegally sell alcohol. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a license, to people under the legal drinking age of 21, and to people who are already obviously intoxicated. These establishments may be held legally responsible if a person is injured or killed. Minnesota has a two year statute of limitations on Dram Shop cases, so it’s best for victims to act quickly to protect their rights.

Victims of drunken driving accidents can trust the attorneys at Sieben Polk Law Firm. The experienced attorneys of Sieben Polk have successfully represented victims in many drunken driving accident cases that have resulted in large settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunken driving accident contact Sieben Polk Law Firm by calling (651) 437-3148 or visiting www.siebenpolklaw.com.

Asbestos dust, when inhaled or swallowed, can settle in the lungs or the stomach and cause irritation that can lead to mesothelioma. Exactly how this process works is not yet fully understood and it can take 20 to 40 years for the development of mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos particles can happen when asbestos is broken up, such as during insulation removal, or during the mining process. Any time asbestos is broken it can create the harmful dust that can be inhaled or swallowed.

Other factors may be involved in whether someone gets mesothelioma. Some people who have had years of asbestos exposure may never develop mesothelioma, yet others with very brief exposure can develop the disease. It’s possible another health condition could increase the risk of getting mesothelioma, or that a predisposition to cancer could raise the risk level.

People who are exposed to asbestos at work can carry the fibers home with them on their clothing and skin. These fibers can put those living with someone who works with asbestos at an increased risk for mesothelioma. Certain medical treatments have also increased mesothelioma risk over the years. Polio vaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 contained simian virus 40 which some research indicates is linked to mesothelioma. The radioactive substance thorium dioxide has also been sighted as a possible risk enhancer of mesothelioma. This chemical was used along with x-rays to diagnose heath conditions from the 1920’s to the 1950’s.

The risks for mesothelioma may seem varied but it stems primarily from exposure to asbestos. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos contact Sieben Polk law firm for more information, call (651) 437-3148 or visit their web page www.siebenpolklaw.com.

Asbestosis is just one of many diseases caused by exposure to asbestos.  There are many different ways a person can be exposed to asbestos.  Often times asbestos exposure can occur at work.  Others have been exposed to asbestos when their loved ones bring asbestos fibers home on their clothes.  Still others simply do not know how they were exposed to asbestos.

Asbestosis occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs.  Asbestos fibers do not breakdown in the lungs, leading to scarring of the important and vital lung tissue.  The lungs increasingly become ineffective, diminishing the asbestos exposure victims ability to breathe properly.

A personal injury asbestos lawsuit to recoup damages and medical expenses can be especially intimidating when your health is suffering.  The Law Firm of Sieben Polk in Minnesota has a proven track record over the past 30 years of successfully handling thousands of asbestos-related cases.  Their ability to guide and help you through the process of a personal injury claim can help you recover money damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering.  Contact the experienced Sieben Polk asbestos attorneys today to receive a no cost evaluation to protect you or your loved ones rights.

If you or a family member has been injured, contact the experienced asbestos lawyers in Minnesota at the Sieben Polk Law Firm for a FREE case evaluation. Call 651-437-3148 or toll free at 866-389-2540.

Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, many patients undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments in an attempt to stop the growth of the tumor.  Some patients chose to undergo a consultation to see if they are a candidate for a pneumonectomy, which is an invasive procedure whereby the lung and parts of the pleura, pericardium, diaphragm and ribs are removed.  After the pneumonectomy, patients sometimes receive radiation and chemotherapy treatments in an attempt to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells.

In order to cope with this devastating cancer, patients need a strong support team, including friends, family and medical professionals.  Mesothelioma patients should also consider seeking legal support.  Because asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States, an experienced asbestos law firm can investigate where, when, how and to what asbestos-containing products a person was exposed to.  Often times, mesothelioma patients do not know that they were ever exposed to asbestos.

Finding a law firm which specializes in mesothelioma cases is a mesothelioma victim’s best course of action to obtain monetary compensation for the injuries they have suffered.  Law firms with a history of asbestos litigation better support victims due to their wealth of experience and resources.  Sieben Polk is the only Minnesota Mesothelioma Law Firm that litigates these cases.  Their team of expert legal advisors can provide compassion, experience, guidance and results as they have for thousands of individuals over their three decades of legal service to asbestos and mesothelioma victims.

If you or a family member has been injured, contact the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Minnesota at the Sieben Polk Law Firm for a FREE case evaluation. Call 651-437-3148 or toll free at 866-389-2540.

Injuries and accidents are a fact of life. However, some of these injuries occur because an individual, business owner, or corporation failed to use reasonable care to ensure the safety of others. Some examples of accidents that can benefit from the help of a personal injury lawyer include:

*Spinal cord injuries
*Accidents resulting in death (wrongful death)
*Head injuries
*Injuries to your child
*Trip and fall injuries
*Parking lot injuries
*Plane crash injuries
*Car crash injuries

Any of these types of injuries and accidents–and many more serious injuries–can occur due to negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to another’s negligent or careless conduct, contact a Minnesota personal injury lawyer right away. Don’t suffer alone with unexpected medical bills. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

If you or a family member has been injured, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers in Minnesota at the Sieben Polk Law Firm for a FREE case evaluation. Call 651-437-3148 or toll free at 866-389-2540.