Attorneys at Zamler, Mellen & Shiffman Victorious in Michigan Asbestos Case
First Michigan asbestos case decided by a verdict in over 16 years.


December 18, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- SOUTHFIELD, MI, Margaret Holman-Jensen and Alice A. Buffington successfully stand up for workers' rights in Avram v. McMaster-Carr Supply Co.

It was the first Michigan asbestos case decided by a verdict in over 16 years. In Avram v. McMaster-Carr Supply Co., Michigan injury attorneys Margaret Holman-Jensen and Alice A. Buffington argued on behalf of Reed Avram, who developed the lung disease asbestosis after years of exposure to asbestos. Following a highly contested case, the jury found on behalf of Avram, awarding him $540,000 in damages.

"This was a big case, not just for our client, but for asbestosis victims throughout Michigan," said Margaret Holman-Jensen, Partner and Asbestos Department Manager for the firm. "Michigan is a state built on industry and asbestosis is something that affects many factory and plant workers. In the end the jury concluded that these workers have rights and that someone should be held responsible for the diseases they developed on the job."

Asbestosis is an inflammation of the lungs and manifests itself through shortness of breath. Victims may also suffer respiratory failure and are at a higher risk for lung cancer. It is often considered an occupational disease due to its prevalence among those who worked in areas such as mining or in factories where asbestos was present.

In this case, the plaintiff spent time at both the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit and with General Motors. At both jobs, he was exposed to large amounts of asbestos. Decades later, he began to develop lung scarring, which resulted in progressive shortness of breath.

The defendant, McMaster-Carr, provided asbestos blankets to the Ford Rouge plant during the time in which Avram was employed. The jury concluded that the manufacturer should have been aware of the dangers of asbestos at the time the blankets were provided and were, therefore, responsible for compensating Avram for his injuries.

"Since asbestosis can take decades to fully develop, it's often hard for victims to seek compensation, said Holman-Jensen. "Of those affected, many think that it's simply been too long since they were exposed, or they tell themselves that the symptoms are due to aging and other things. This case proves that you can find justice, even decades after your exposure to asbestos."

The Michigan personal injury lawyers of Zamler, Mellen & Shiffman have offices in Detroit, Southfield and Taylor. The law firm was established in 1969 and has decades of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases of all types. Visit their Web site, http://www.zmspc.com, for more information.

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