Mesothelioma: A Killer Lurks in the Lungs

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Mesothelioma News:

10-08-04:
Burlington Northern shares rise despite charge against earnings

10-07-04:
Judge denies mineral shipper's bankruptcy reorganization plan

10-06-04:
US asked to probe Hardie on asbestos

10-05-04:
ACT protesters rally against Canadian asbestos export Tuesday, 5 October 2004 About 100 people have gathered outside the Canadian High Commission in Canberra to protest against the country's export of asbestos.

Hardie asbestos deal close: ACTU By Fleur Leyden October 4, 2004 Building materials maker James Hardie Industries could reach a basic agreement with unions within two weeks about a potential $1.5 billion claim from asbestos victims, says the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

10-01-04:
Tucson-Area Water Contamination Victims Win Arizona Appeals Court Ruling; Appellate Decision Could Clear Way for $35 Million Payout to 1,618 Residents; Thursday September 30, 5:32 pm ET

9-30-04 First Set of News

9-30-04 Second Set of News

9-29-04 First Set of News

KERRY O'BRIEN: First tonight - an update on the story of disgraced asbestos company James Hardie. And under intense pressure from last week's damning report into its move offshore, Hardie's has given up its attempts to replace existing court compensation with a new lawyer-free statutory system.

Asbestos trust to sue using mafia law Ean Higgins September 30, 2004 THE trust James Hardie Industries set up for asbestos disease victims plans to sue the company under US anti-racketeering laws enacted to fight the mafia, described as a legal "neutron bomb" that could triple damages payouts.

Australia: asbestos poisoning victims sacrificed to corporate profit By Terry Cook, SEP candidate for the Senate in NSW 29 September 2004 The scandal that has erupted around giant building materials company James Hardie Industries (JHIL) reveals how—with the support of governments and unions—the health and welfare of ordinary working people is constantly sacrificed to corporate profit.

BUSINESS tenants are being urged to check their premises for asbestos or risk being caught out by tough new regulations. The call has come from experts at Button & Co Solicitors, in Manor Road, Coventry city centre, as new regulations could place the responsibility on business tenants to manage any asbestos in their premises.

The poison in smoke Smokers exhale high levels of a poison linked to asthma and bronchitis that can seriously affect the breathing of those around them, research by a team of scientists in Sweden has found. 

Health group plays down asbestos fears Wednesday, 29 September 2004 Echuca Regional Health has moved to put to rest concerns about staff and the public being exposed to asbestos. The Health Services Union is worried about health risks from demolition works planned for new theatres at the hospital.

EU Approvals: Eloxatin, Raptiva, Alimta, Xenical Yael Waknine Sept. 28, 2004 — The European Commission has approved the following drugs for use in the European Union: oxaliplatin in the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer, efalizumab for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin for malignant pleural mesothelioma, and pemetrexed monotherapy as second-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. In addition, the 2.5-kg pretreatment weight loss requirement has been removed from the label for orlistat.

Asbestos-related shares fall on dim fund prospects Tue Sep 28, 2004 01:37 PM ET NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Shares of companies facing asbestos claims fell Tuesday after prospects dimmed for establishing a victims' compensation fund this year.

Asbestos demand delivered Melinda Browning Wednesday, 29 September 2004 ECHUCA Regional Health has been given an ultimatum to prove the hospital is asbestos-free by today. The Health Services Union has demanded to see documentation of the hospital's asbestos elimination procedure within 24 hours, following a meeting between the parties yesterday afternoon.

Chair of the Ra'anana Committee for the Environment Vered Molko recently convened a meeting of the city engineer, the head of the engineering department, and the chairman of the city Planning and Building Committee to discuss the matter of asbestos in buildings, reports Al Hasharon.

9-29-04 Second Set of News

James Hardie trust 'to sue company' September 30, 2004 - 5:59AM The trust James Hardie Industries set up for asbestos disease victims plans to sue the company under US anti-racketeering laws enacted to fight the mafia, it was reported.

CALUMET CITY -- With contracts and a state construction grant awarded and some work already under way, Hoover-Schrum Elementary District 157 officials are being advised to proceed with plans to renovate and demolish part of the old Hoover Elementary School building.

Letter: North project a symptom of a 'Pharaoh complex' Wednesday, September 29, 2004 The design competition is critical as the "New Newton North" process is flawed and failed. Those in charge have lost broken trust with citizens. New Newton North's bizarre agenda is forged in a tightly controlled misinformation process that is prejudiced by the specific objective to build a new school at any cost.

The World Today - Tuesday, 28 September , 2004 12:26:00 Reporter: ELEANOR HALL: Returning to our lead story on the decision by James Hardie's CEO to stand aside but not resign, the NSW Premier Bob Carr has been holding a joint news conference with ACTU leader Greg Combet in Sydney.

Despite investing more than $23 million to convert the former American Thread Co. mills in Windham into a technology center, the state will see the project -- which has created barely one-tenth of the jobs anticipated -- to fall into private hands before the year's end.

UK - Details of a unique, ambitious and decades-long investigation into the causes of breast cancer - The Breakthrough Generations Study - were revealed today by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK's leading breast cancer charity, and The Institute of Cancer Research, one of the world's leading cancer research organisations.

Attention University Students: University policy mandates that under NO circumstances are cockroaches in CV circle to be mercilessly slaughtered for the selfish motives of student comfort. Students of Centennial Village were instructed to let the critters live, as construction under Regan Hall disturbed their natural habitat and thus their migration to CV was the University's fault. In similar news, bug sprays are now considered illegal because "bugs have feelings too, you know."

Chemotherapy May Improve Outcome of Pneumonectomy for Mesothelioma Researchers from Switzerland have reported the outcomes of 19 patients with mesothelioma scheduled to be treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy and radiation therapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Platinol® (cisplatin). The details of this report appeared in the September 1, 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology .

Madison County : Where asbestos rules By Paul Hampel Copyright 2004, St. Louis Post-Dispatch 09/18/2004 Madison County 's king of asbestos litigation pushed his way through the crowded courtroom and propped an elbow on the judge's bench.

Greg Combet: Morality will prevail over profit September 27, 2004 NOTHING in my working life has upset me as much as James Hardie's attempt to walk away from people who are suffering disease and death because of exposure to the company's asbestos products. It highlights a disconnection between commercial decisions and morality which is sickening.

9-28-04 First Set of News

No laurels for Hardie Richard Gluyas September 29, 2004 MEREDITH Hellicar, with tours of duty as a diplomat, Alan Bond's manager of corporate affairs and an AMP director, is a veteran of crisis management. However, the James Hardie chairmanship, requiring a delicate balance between shareholder interests and compassion for the victims of horrendous asbestos diseases like mesothelioma, will be her sternest test.

Quincy smelter trail free of asbestos By GARRETT NEESE, Gazette Writer RIPLEY - Results from testing done on the Department of Natural Resources recreational trail near the former Quincy Smelter Works site are currently being analyzed, according to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources supervisor.

Asbestos scare shuts down Iqaluit metal dump WebPosted Sep 28 2004 09:30 AM CDT IQALUIT - Workers at Iqaluit's old metal dump have been ordered to shut down operations while a possible asbestos contamination is investigated.

CEO manages to pull off great escape By Alan Kohler September 29, 2004 Peter Macdonald is a lucky guy, no doubt about it. He gets a leave ticket from the ugly and dangerous James Hardie front line, keeps running the business from the safety of the bunker and gets the same wage as before - base pay plus bonuses.

Fire Service Sues over Asbestos Dangers By Pat Hurst, PA News The Government is to be sued by a fire brigade for not warning firefighters of the dangers of asbestos, it was revealed today.

UPDATE:James Hardie Admits Moral Obligation For Asbestos By Morag MacKinnon Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--A week after the release of a damning report into James Hardie Industries NV's (JHX) handling of asbestos liabilities, Chairwoman Meredith Hellicar admitted Tuesday that the company has a moral obligation to compensate victims.

MERSEYSIDE Fire Service is suing the Government over the death of one of its officers due to asbestos, in a case that could open the floodgates for millions of pounds worth of compensation claims.

James Hardie CEO and CFO Stand Aside Following Asbestos Enquiry The Board of James Hardie Industries NV has reviewed the report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the establishment of the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation.

Asbestos scandal forces Hardie CEO, CFO to step down 28 September 2004 SYDNEY: The top two executives of James Hardie Industries NV stepped down today, a week after a government inquiry found the company broke the law and lied to thousands of asbestos victims and financial markets.

Meeting to focus on hospital asbestos concerns Tuesday, 28 September 2004 There will be a meeting today between the Department of Human Services, Echuca Hospital and the Health Services Union about the welfare of hospital staff.

9-28-04 Second Set of News

James Hardie cosmetically removes CEO and CFO 28/09/04 By: Andrew Nelson James Hardie Industries NV (JHX) today advised that effective immediately, Mr Peter Macdonald is standing aside as CEO and Mr Peter Shafron is standing aside as CFO. An acting CEO and acting CFO will be appointed, with the board expecting to make announcements in respect of these appointments in due course.

James Hardie's Macdonald Stands Aside for Regulator's Inquiry Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- James Hardie Industries NV said Chief Executive Officer Peter Macdonald will stand aside during a probe by Australia's securities regulator into allegations he misled investors about the cost of compensating people sickened by asbestos contained in the company's products.

Outlook Dims for Asbestos Reform in Senate Mon Sep 27, 2004 04:52 PM ET By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outlook dimmed for establishing a fund to compensate asbestos victims this year after the Senate majority leader on Monday left it off a list of priorities for the few days left in the legislative period.

Bringing Halliburton To Heel By Charlie Cray, TomPaine.com. Posted September 27, 2004. More stories by Charlie Cray Criminologist Edwin Sutherland could not have imagined the heights of war profiteering reached by Halliburton in Iraq. In his 1949 groundbreaking study White Collar Crime , Sutherland wrote about the role of corporations in last century’s world wars.

Asbestos-related shares fall on dim fund prospects Tue Sep 28, 2004 01:37 PM ET NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Shares of companies facing asbestos claims fell Tuesday after prospects dimmed for establishing a victims' compensation fund this year.

Asbestos demand delivered Melinda Browning Wednesday, 29 September 2004 ECHUCA Regional Health has been given an ultimatum to prove the hospital is asbestos-free by today. The Health Services Union has demanded to see documentation of the hospital's asbestos elimination procedure within 24 hours, following a meeting between the parties yesterday afternoon.

(Updates with Frist letter to Daschle, paragraphs 2, 11-13) By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The outlook dimmed on Monday for establishing a fund to compensate asbestos victims this year after the Senate majority leader left it off a list of priorities for the few days left in the legislative period.

No Role for Simian Virus 40 in Human Pleural Mesotheliomas Assays 26 Sep 2004 Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the chest cavity that kills about 2000 people a year in the United States.

No laurels for Hardie Richard Gluyas September 29, 2004 MEREDITH Hellicar, with tours of duty as a diplomat, Alan Bond's manager of corporate affairs and an AMP director, is a veteran of crisis management.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the chest cavity that kills about 2000 people a year in the United States. Seventy to eighty percent of patients with this rare cancer have had exposure to asbestos. It has also been proposed that simian virus 40 (SV40), a contaminant in some polio vaccines administered in the 1950’s and 1960’s, might be a cause.

9-27-04 First Set of News

CLEVELAND -- In an attempt to clear the overflowing docket in Cuyahoga County's asbestos court, the presiding judge said the court will only hear the claims of those who have been sickened by the substance.

Asbestos victims take campaign to Hardie investors PM - Monday, 27 September , 2004 18:36:50 Reporter: Karen Percy MARK COLVIN: Victims of asbestos related diseases are stepping up their campaign against James Hardie.

Asbestos death link AN ELDERLY widow's death could be linked to asbestos fibres on the clothes of her son who died four years ago, according to an inquest. Joan Rose, 86, of Keightley Drive, New Eltham, died of the asbestos disease mesothelioma on June 6.

Condesa Launches Blawg Republic (PRLEAP.COM) SAN DIEGO, CA - September 27, 2004 - Condesa, an internet media company, today announced the launch of Blawg Republic (http://www.blawgrepublic.com/), a free online service for searching, sharing, and tracking the latest news, and opinions moving through the legal blogging community.

Information on asbestos do's and don'ts Monday, 27 September 2004 ASBESTOS related diseases are terrible illnesses and given the number of older-style fibro houses in Queanbeyan, it's an issue worth thinking about if you are considering renovating.

Greg Combet: Morality will prevail over profit September 27, 2004 NOTHING in my working life has upset me as much as James Hardie's attempt to walk away from people who are suffering disease and death because of exposure to the company's asbestos products. It highlights a disconnection between commercial decisions and morality which is sickening.

EPA Says University Should Inform Students About Benign Asbestos By Kate McGovern Published: Friday, September 17, 2004 Students should not be alarmed by the asbestos warning tags hanging in University academic buildings and Gibbons Hall, according to school officials. An official at the Environmental Protection Agency, however, said students should be informed and educated about its presence on campus.

Treatment guides issued for asbestos-related disease The American Thoracic Society published a guide for physicians who are treating nonmalignant diseases related to exposure to asbestos. The guide is in the second issue of the September American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Lawyers in asbestos case agreed to destroy evidence By Barrie Clement Labour Editor 27 September 2004 A leading London law firm agreed a deal to destroy documents which could be used by workers to claim compensation for asbestos-related diseases, The Independent has learnt.

Law firm agreed to shred vital data Kevin Maguire Monday September 27, 2004 The Guardian A respected London legal firm signed a private deal to destroy documents in what it publicly hailed as a £7.5m "landmark" asbestos compensation settlement for South African workers, according to a confidential agreement obtained by the Guardian.

9-27-04 First Set of News

Greg Combet: Morality will prevail over profit September 27, 2004 NOTHING in my working life has upset me as much as James Hardie's attempt to walk away from people who are suffering disease and death because of exposure to the company's asbestos products. It highlights a disconnection between commercial decisions and morality which is sickening.

Investor tools: Keeley fund looks for bargains By JAY LOOMIS THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: September 26, 2004) EnPro Industries Inc. was a troubled stock unloved by others when it first caught John L. Keeley Jr.'s eye more than a year ago.

Case Hinges on Material Witness In a high-stakes lawsuit against Union Carbide, Exhibit A is an asbestos the company now says is safe By Lisa Girion, Times Staff Writer To hear Kelly-Moore's lawyer tell it, the Union Carbide salesmen had their mantra down: Don't worry, they'd say, don't worry.

With Angelos standing in way, eminent domain might not be imminent Originally published Sep 26, 2004 IF YOU BELIEVE everything that you read, it's time to start putting a few bucks aside each week to pay for your PSL at Citizens Don't Want To Bank This Ballpark in Washington.

With Angelos standing in way, eminent domain might not be imminent Originally published Sep 26, 2004 IF YOU BELIEVE everything that you read, it's time to start putting a few bucks aside each week to pay for your PSL at Citizens Don't Want To Bank This Ballpark in Washington.

University of Iowa settles Old Capitol lawsuit for $1.9 million IOWA CITY -- The University of Iowa has settled a lawsuit filed against the company blamed for starting a fire at the Old Capitol nearly three years ago.

A deadly shame 26sep04 LIKE the archetypal corporate villain in a B-grade movie, James Hardie Industries has been exposed as heartless as well as greedy – according to last week's Jackson inquiry.

Hardie head's hilltop hideout NICK PAPPS in Los Angeles 26sep04 THIS is the $6 million home where James Hardie boss Peter Macdonald has been hiding from the world.

Once Surrounded by Asbestos, Now Surrounded by Their Fears Some former Union Carbide mill workers worry that exposure to the mineral harmed them. The company cites a lack of evidence.

Payout for widow after husband's death BY DANIELLE NUTTALL September 25, 2004 06:14 A WIDOW has secured £126,000 damages after her husband died from a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos at power stations.

9-24-04 First Set of News

Multiplex reassuring By Carolyn Cummins September 25, 2004 Multiplex has been reassuring investors that the industrial assets it bought from James Hardie have not been affected by that company's recent asbestos-related issues.

HALLIBURTON considers selling off KBR unit HOUSTON When Halliburton was awarded contracts worth more than $12 billion for work in Iraq, critics said that the company was using its political connections to reap big profits. But now, in a sign that those contracts are not providing the boon executives had expected from a subsidiary weighed down by other problems, Halliburton has said that it was considering a sale of the business.

Asbestos delaying renovation project at Fox hospital By Amy L. Ashbridge Staff Writer ONEONTA — Asbestos is standing in the way of a $12 million const ruction and renovation project at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.

APS: Some Students Might Have Been Exposed To Asbestos POSTED: 9:06 am MDT September 24, 2004 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Parents of students at one Albuquerque charter school will receive notification Friday that their children might have been exposed to asbestos at school.

Lives in the dust September 25, 2004 The worst of the asbestos scourge is yet to come, affecting people like Hank and Bert De Vries. Photo: Simon O Dwyer In the end there was nowhere left to hide. The death toll was climbing, the inquiry forensic and the public anger near boiling point. Elisabeth Sexton and Tony Stephens report on James Hardie, its dirty work and the people left behind.

Rumours of change at Hardie helm By Scott Rochfort Sydney September 25, 2004 Speculation is rife that James Hardie chief operating officer Louis Gries could soon take charge at the former asbestos manufacturer.

Lead Paint, Asbestos Found in School Gym By Tom Kasprzack Published on 9/24/2004 Pawcatuck -- Construction workers renovating Stonington High School have encountered some lead paint and asbestos inside the gymnasium, Peter Manning, senior project manager for the Gilbane Construction Co. said last week.

Another £6.9 million is to be spent on Coventry Transport Museum to rid it of asbestos, add new exhibitions and install sprinklers to prevent fire wrecking its priceless collections. The full council agreed the extra expenditure after hearing the alternatives could prove even more costly. Building a new museum from scratch would cost £35 million.

MARK COLVIN: Mark Latham today aligned himself even more closely with a campaign to force James Hardie to pay better compensation for victims of mesothelioma. The Labor leader stopped the campaign bus outside the James Hardie factory in Sydney to meet one of the leading campaigners for compensation.

Halliburton said it will restructure and may even sell its Kellogg, Brown and Root subsidiary, the business at the root of recent controversy. KBR, an engineering and construction business, has come under scrutiny over contracts in Iraq and employee corruption in Nigeria.

9-24-04 Second Set of News

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the chest cavity that kills about 2000 people a year in the United States. Seventy to eighty percent of patients with this rare cancer have had exposure to asbestos. It has also been proposed that simian virus 40 (SV40), a contaminant in some polio vaccines administered in the 1950's and 1960's, might be a cause.

City to offer high-rises alternative to sprinklers September 24, 2004 BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter Chicago 's older residential buildings will be forced to pay over the next five years for safety improvements needed to avoid installing sprinklers, according to a city analysis distributed to aldermen.

The World Today - Friday, 24 September , 2004 12:46:00 Reporter: Michael Vincent ELEANOR HALL: To a major court decision in Sydney now and lawyers say tobacco companies will be breathing a multibillion dollar sigh of relief today after a class action they were bringing for an Australian smoker was rejected by the New South Wales Supreme Court today.

Boycott Threatened to Gain Compensation for Asbestos Victims "PA" Australian opposition leader Mark Latham threatened a nationwide boycott of one of the country’s biggest building materials companies today to force it to pay compensation to victims of asbestos poisoning.

TAUNTON -- Work finally began yesterday morning on the rubble removal from the Seeley Building site-- just one day before $1,000-a-day fines were scheduled to begin piling up. "I’m happy the work has begun, but at the same time, I don’t really think it’s a coincidence the work began the day before fines were to be implemented," City Councilor Jason Buffington said.

Rann praises asbestos hotline proposal South Australian Premier Mike Rann says he thinks an asbestos advisory service is a terrific idea, and he will be discussing it with Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Greg Combet this afternoon.

Halliburton making cuts at struggling KBR Subsidiary may be sold if its stock doesn't improve By DAVID IVANOVICH and LYNN J. COOK Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Houston-based Halliburton Co. will lay off workers at its KBR subsidiary as part of a cost-cutting program and could sell the business if the company's stock performance does not improve.

SA MP calls for asbestos scheme 12:25 AEST Fri Sep 24 2004 An Independent MP wants James Hardie to fund a $1 million scheme advising home owners and renovators of asbestos risks in South Australia. Independent Nick Xenophon said he would introduce legislation next month to state parliament calling for the establishment of a dedicated service to educate, advise and warn the public of asbestos dangers.

NEWS ANALYSIS By Stephanie Anderson Forest A Thorn in Halliburton's Side The Kellogg Brown & Root unit is putting a big hurt on the stock. Is a parting of the ways likely? Chief Executive David J. Lesar might be right when he describes Halliburton Co. (HAL ) as "the most scrutinized company in the world." The $20 billion Houston giant has taken a public beating in the past couple of years over allegations

SPREADING IT AROUND? Nevertheless, KBR remains under fire for charges that it has inflated its Iraq billing. The company has powerful enemies in Congress, including outspoken Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), who has attacked Halliburton and its missteps in Iraq as "overcharging the taxpayers." Halliburton denies the allegations and, in fact, on Sept.

9-23-04 First Set of News

LATEST NEWS 11:31 AM CDT Thursday Bonduel firm settles asbestos lawsuit Whitewater Gresham Estates L.L.C. and two of its principals have agreed to pay $50,000 to settle an environmental enforcement lawsuit by the state for violations related to the firm's handling of asbestos-contaminated material, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Halliburton to reorganize KBR, may sell it By DAVID IVANOVICH and LYNN COOK Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Houston-based Halliburton Co. plans a cost-cutting program at its KBR subsidiary and could sell the engineering and construction business if the company's stock performance does not improve.

Asbestos boss won't stand down By NICK PAPPS in Los Angeles and BRAD CLIFTON September 24, 2004 DISGRACED James Hardie boss Peter Macdonald has thumbed his nose at calls from NSW Premier Bob Carr for him to resign.

GENEVA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - United Nations environment chief Klaus Toepfer vowed on Thursday to keep fighting to curb trade in toxic asbestos despite opposition from leading producers like Canada and Russia.

US regulator may investigate James Hardie The United States' corporate regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, may launch its own investigation in James Hardie's handling of its asbestos liabilities.

Unions call on Govt to dump Hardie shares Unions want the Victorian Government to dump any shares its agencies have in James Hardie Industries.

Asbestos blamed in project tie-ups By Matt McDonald, Globe Correspondent | September 23, 2004 SUDBURY -- Long traffic lines in the mornings and afternoons at the new Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School are likely to continue indefinitely, due to a delay in the demolition of the old building next door.

Hardie CEO under pressure to resign September 23, 2004 James Hardie Industries chief executive Peter Macdonald was under mounting pressure to resign, with the Australian Shareholders Association (ASA) adding to calls for his removal over asbestos disease compensation.

Builder wants strict asbestos rules By Sara Hooker Daily Herald Staff Writer Posted Thursday, September 23, 2004 Glen Ellyn is exploring whether stricter controls on teardowns are necessary to protect residents from asbestos that could become airborne when the structures are razed.

Lilly cancer drug Alimta gets OK for sale in EU September 23, 2004 Indianapolis (Star report) -- The Eli Lilly and Co. cancer drug Alimta has been approved for sale in the European Union.

9-22-04 Second Set of News

Asbestos Warning For Renovators 23/09/2004 08:12 AM NewstalkZB There is a fresh reminder for home renovators to beware of hidden asbestos. New Zealand Building Industry Federation says any house constructed before 1983 could have affected tiles, fittings or walls.

Blue over asbestos Regina Titelius Thursday, 23 September 2004 The Nuriootpa rubbish tip could soon be a dumping ground for asbestos if an application by the tip operators is accepted by the State Government.

Hardie's trust for victims demands role in talks Ean Higgins September 24, 2004 THE trust James Hardie Industries set up for asbestos disease victims yesterday demanded a seat at the negotiating table that will decide the future of the company's asbestos compensation.

Guns are trained on Hardie's messenger By Richard Ackland September 24, 2004 One of the fascinating wrinkles to come out of the commission of inquiry into James Hardie Industries' tragically underfunded asbestos compensation strategy is that the public relations guru at the heart of the company's thinking is in strife over its lies.

It's inescapable - Hardie CEO must go By Stephen Bartholomeusz September 24, 2004 One of the more bemusing aspects of the debate about the James Hardie inquiry findings is the calls for the resignation of chief executive Peter Macdonald.

Asbestos alert signs urged By DANNY ROSE 23sep04 WARNING signs should be placed in Tasmania's hardware stores to combat the anticipated surge in fatal asbestos-related lung disease, the state's peak union body says.

200 face lung death in Tassie By DANNY ROSE 22sep04 ALMOST 200 Tasmanians are expected to contract a fatal lung condition over the next 20 years, the state's peak workers group has warned.

Hardie should fund cure: victim September 21, 2004 A MESOTHELIOMA sufferer whose father died from the same disease said today James Hardie Industries should be forced to fund research into a cure and not just compensation.

First victory in battle for justice Kamahl Cogdon 22sep04 ASBESTOS victims yesterday claimed round one in the battle for justice from James Hardie Industries. But they conceded the war was far from over. Victorian sufferers of asbestos-related diseases said James Hardie's deception had been exposed by the six-month inquiry into the funding of its asbestos compensation fund.

Workers at the car parts manufacturer Turner & Newall could be offered hope of recovering their pension funds following a recent courtroom victory. Administrators of the company have been granted the chance to appeal to a High Court judge to challenge what they call "an unfair" US plan to sell off the firm.

9-22-04 First Set of News

NZ link in Australian asbestos case 23.09.2004 A court case in Australia involving a New Zealander with asbestos-related lung disease is thought to have implications for hundreds of people in New Zealand.

Markets are soulless, shareholders have obligations By Jewel Topsfield September 23, 2004 The surge in shares in James Hardie Industries following the damning findings on its corporate behaviour raises difficult ethical issues.

Asbestos alert signs urged By DANNY ROSE 23sep04 WARNING signs should be placed in Tasmania's hardware stores to combat the anticipated surge in fatal asbestos-related lung disease, the state's peak union body says.

Firm Embroiled in Asbestos Claim Seek High Court Help By Stephen Howard, PA News Administrators of engineering company Turner & Newall today won the chance to ask a High Court judge what they should do about what they called “an unfair” US plan to sell off the company.

Family relocated due to unsafe asbestos removal; A local family of four had to be relocated from their home while asbestos was removed from their basement last week. Sam and Mary Larson, their daughter Faun Tosse, 10, and 11-month-old son Jericho, returned from Bettendorf on Wednesday, September 15 after spending six nights at the Heartland Inn.

Markets are soulless, shareholders have obligations By Jewel Topsfield September 23, 2004 The surge in shares in James Hardie Industries following the damning findings on its corporate behaviour raises difficult ethical issues. Is it right to profit from a company whose products have resulted in the deaths of users?

A new study into asbestos-related disease in the Latrobe Valley has found that many affected people feel angry and disappointed with the support they have received to date from the former State Electricity Commission (SEC), other branches of government, and the healthcare system.

COMUNICADO DE ELI LILLY AND COMPANY (1) Alimta Approved in the European Union for Two Cancer Indications First and Only Chemotherapy Approved for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and New Option for a Common Form of Lung Cancer INDIANAPOLIS (USA), 22 Sep. (PRNewswire) -

SYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Shares in Australian building products firm James Hardie Industries NV climbed 6 percent to a two-month high on Wednesday on hopes that the cost of a year-old asbestos claims scandal may now be quantifiable.

TOWANDA - Towanda School District officials opened bids Tuesday for the asbestos removal portion of the planned $10.1 million expansion/renovation project at the Towanda Middle School building.

9-22-04 Second Set of News

Lack of trust poisons efforts to reform asbestos litigation By Paul Hampel Of the Post-Dispatch ©2004 St. Louis Post-Dispatch 09/21/2004 The abuses of the nation's asbestos litigation system have prompted demands for reform from Capitol Hill to the nation's statehouses to county courts.

James Hardie Shares Jump; Asbestos Report `Positive' (Correct) By Barbara Adam Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of James Hardie Industries NV rose for a second day after a government inquiry supported the company's proposed method of meeting compensation claims from people injured by its asbestos products.

James Hardie asbestos report brings mixed feelings Wednesday, 22 September 2004 The Gippsland Asbestos Related Disease Support Group (GARDS) has mixed feelings about a report into James Hardie's asbestos liabilities.

GM settled ex-worker's asbestos suit By Paul Hampel Of the Post-Dispatch 09/21/2004 The first clue that something was wrong with Floyd Bryson's lungs came in 2001. He had grabbed a load of laundry and was out of breath before he reached the top of the stairs.

Navy vet gets checks, though scarring is benign By Paul Hampel Of the Post-Dispatch 09/21/2004 Critics of asbestos litigation say that only a small minority of cases involve people who are actually sick. Most claims, they say, are like that of Rodell Jarden of Marine, in eastern Madison County.

AM - Wednesday, 22 September , 2004 08:10:00 Reporter: Tony Eastley TONY EASTLEY: While the Inquiry found that James Hardie is now not legally obliged to pay compensation, it did conclude that James Hardie has a moral obligation to do so.

Fighting the good fight Story: KEELI CAMBOURNE Wednesday, 22 September 2004 WHEN Greg Hayes decided to tell his story to the South Coast Register in July this year he had no idea it would lead him to be cause celebre for the fight against asbestos manufacturer James Hardies Industries Inc.

Asbestos victims betrayed: report Peter Gosnell 22sep04 JAMES Hardie chief Peter Macdonald lied to dying asbestos victims, misled his company and fed untruths to the stock exchange, a six-month inquiry has found.

Australian asbestos case 'has implications for NZers' 22.09.2004 A case going through the Australian court system involving a New Zealander with asbestos-related lung disease is thought to have implications for possibly hundreds of people in this country.

Australian asbestos case 'has implications for NZers' 22.09.2004 A case going through the Australian court system involving a New Zealander with asbestos-related lung disease is thought to have implications for possibly hundreds of people in this country.

9-21-04 First Set of News

Asbestos found in Co Meath bog 21 September 2004 16:20 Rogue builders are being blamed for dumping a quantity of asbestos in a Co Meath bog.Residents near the Bohermeen Bog discovered the sheets of corrugated roofing material containing asbestos lying in an overgrown part of the bog. It is likely to have been there for sometime.

PM - Tuesday, 21 September , 2004 18:14:00 Reporter: Nick Grimm MARK COLVIN: Australia's corporate regulator ASIC is now examining the recommendations of the Jackson inquiry. It has the power to prosecute any individuals who might be judged to have breached the nation's corporations law.

RESIDENTS of Whitley's Hexham Road flats, which have been sealed off since asbestos was discovered, are raising safety doubts over the entire block. They say a growing pile of rubbish outside the flats has led to an infestation of maggots and flies.

Environmental group says settlement proposal "slap on the wrist" CHICAGO An environmental group says Johns Manville Corporation will get away with a "slap on the wrist" if a judge approves a state settlement to resolve asbestos violations.

Too late for many By Malcolm Brown September 22, 2004 Valerie Fenwick, 64, occasionally took in lunch to her father, Ken Fenwick, at the James Hardie Industries plant at Camellia, and saw suspended asbestos fibre.

200 face lung death in Tassie By DANNY ROSE 22sep04 ALMOST 200 Tasmanians are expected to contract a fatal lung condition over the next 20 years, the state's peak workers group has warned.

Mum's resolve: I just want to live By BRAD CLIFTON September 22, 2004 BERNADETTA Russo turns 43 on Sunday. She can't believe she made it. Two years ago, Mrs Russo was diagnosed with mesothelioma and told she had between three and six months to live.

Market at odds on asbestos finding Anthony Marx 22sep04 JAMES Hardie shares resumed trading late yesterday and spiked 21¢ despite the release of a damning report that found the building products giant had broken the law and faced a blowout in asbestos compensation claims.

Govt should give back JH donations: ALP 02:31 AEST Wed Sep 22 2004 Labor has renewed its call for the federal government to hand back Liberal Party donations from James Hardie after a long-awaited report found the asbestos manufacturer misled the public.

Australia's Hardie may face charges over asbestos 22 September 2004 SYDNEY: Australian building products firm James Hardie Industries NV may face criminal charges after a government inquiry found it broke the law by saying it had enough money in a fund to compensate thousands of asbestos victims.

9-21-04 Second Set of News

James Hardie Underfunded Asbestos Fund, Inquiry Says (Update1) Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- James Hardie Industries NV underfunded a trust to compensate asbestos victims by at least A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) and misled investors when it said it had set aside enough money to pay all victims, a New South Wales state government inquiry found.

James Hardie's Macdonald Misled on Asbestos Fund, Inquiry Says Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- James Hardie Industries NV Chief Executive Peter Macdonald may face charges for misleading investors on how much money a company trust needed to compensate asbestos victims, an Australian state government inquiry found.

The headteacher of a Derby school at the centre of an asbestos scare has been suspended after an inquiry into events around its three-month closure. Around £750,000 had to be spent decontaminating the school in Mickleover after asbestos was found during routine building work in March.

Following are the 10 largest political contributors to Madison County circuit and 5th District appellate judges since Jan. 1, 2002. The totals include contributions from individual attorneys within the firms. The totals do not include lawyers' contributions that fell below the reporting threshold of $150.

Canada must stop selling asbestos to world HOWARD PAWLEY AND HARRY GLASBEEK Canada has a justified reputation for compassion, for its willingness to make sacrifices to help people in war-torn countries, for its commitment to health care for all. Yet, it is on the brink of staining its pride of place among nations by its stubborn support of the insupportable.

Plaintiff bar gives top dollar to judges' campaigns By Kevin McDermott The biggest recipient of donations was Democrat Gordon E. Maag, a 5th District appellate judge now running for the Illinois Supreme Court. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Madison County judges, who are among the most successful in the state in attracting political donations, are getting the biggest chunk of that money from just one side of the courtroom: the plaintiff attorneys.

The World Today - Tuesday, 21 September , 2004 12:18:05 Reporter: Stephen Long ELEANOR HALL: To a breaking story in Sydney – the verdict on the building products company James Hardie is in. Seven months after he began hearings, David Jackson QC today handed down the findings of the special commission of inquiry into a massive shortfall in funding for the foundation James Hardie set up to pay asbestos claims.

Hardie lawyers cleared of fraud Sep 21 16:24 AAP The law firm that acted for James Hardie Industries failed to disclose important information when it helped the company move its headquarters to the Netherlands, an inquiry found today.

Hardie should fund cure: victim September 21, 2004 A MESOTHELIOMA sufferer whose father died from the same disease said today James Hardie Industries should be forced to fund research into a cure and not just compensation.

UPDATE:James Hardie Misled Investors On Asbestos-Inquiry By Morag MacKinnon Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--James Hardie Industries NV (JHX) misled shareholders when it said in February 2001 that it had set aside sufficient funds to compensate victims of asbestos, a government inquiry found Tuesday.

9-20-04

Canada blocks asbestos type from global toxic list 20 Sep 2004 22:29:34 GMT By Cyrille Cartier WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Canada has blocked the addition of a carcinogenic type of asbestos to a global list of toxic chemicals, a move that environmentalists said on Monday could undermine efforts to protect people and the environment.

James Hardie inquiry findings to be released The findings of an inquiry into James Hardie's separation from its Australian asbestos compensation liabilities will be handed to the New South Wales Government this morning.

St. Paul Travelers Receives Favorable Decision in ACandS Asbestos Litigation SAINT PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2004--The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (St. Paul Travelers, NYSE:STA) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has issued a ruling denying ACandS's motion to vacate the previously announced arbitration award granted to Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Travelers) on July 31, 2003

Countries OK Limit in Chemicals Trade Associated Press GENEVA - Governments agreed Monday to add 14 hazardous chemicals to a list which restricts the trade of dangerous substances, but failed for a second straight year to include the most common form of asbestos.

SUPPORTING THE DIA: Art museum is in dire need of additional funding September 20, 2004 The treasures housed in the Detroit Institute of Arts require a safe home and and deserve an engaging display. Unfortunately, the price tag just got an awful lot higher, at a time when public funding for the arts is dwindling.

Silica feared as 'next asbestos' By Yvette Essen (Filed: 20/09/2004) Silica sand, which is often turned into a gel and put into handbags and electronic goods to soak up moisture, has become the latest substance to join a list of toxic products worrying underwriters.

Lawyer: Japan settles asbestos lawsuit By Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Monday, September 20, 2004 TOKYO — Japanese government officials agreed to pay about $2.74 million to a group of former employees who suffered from lung disease after working on ships containing asbestos at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, an attorney involved in the case said.

'Propaganda is killing asbestos cement industry' Kolkata, Sept. 21 (PTI): The 'negative campaign launched by the steel industry' and apprehension created in the minds of the people that all varieties of asbestos are carcinogenic is threatening the very survival of 'chrysotile asbestos cement' industry, Asbestos Cement Products Manufacturers' Association (ACPMA) has said.

New Mesothelioma Treatments (EMAILWIRE.COM, August 25, 2004) Woodland Hills, CA—Mesothelioma Advisor ( http://www.mesothelioma-advisor.org ) has released a report on new mesothelioma treatments. The article was written by Eric N. Scholnick, Attorney at Law.

Illinois Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on venue for asbestos suits By Paul Hampel Of the Post-Dispatch 09/19/2004 A Florida resident who claimed he got cancer from exposure to asbestos in England. A man from Oregon whose death is blamed on asbestos fibers inhaled in Alaska. A man who lived on both coasts and died after he allegedly had contact with asbestos in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia and West Virginia.

New Mesothelioma Drug SBP002 The new SBP002 drug to treat mesothelioma has been a success so far in a test group of 13 from Perth, Australia. The SBP002 mesothelioma treatment drug is derived from the noxious weed Devil's Apple.

Pfizer to Pay $430 Million to Settle Asbestos Claims Pfizer, subsidiary Quigley Co., and others were defendents in a trial that alleged that they caused personal injury by exposure to asbestos. The asbestos sometimes caused mesothelioma.

St. Paul Asbestos Settlement Approved The settlement includes $445 million for claimants and $57.5 million in fees. According to Reuters: Insurer St. Paul Travelers Companies on Wednesday said a bankruptcy court approved a $502.5 million asbestos settlement for all pending asbestos court actions against its Travelers Property Casualty unit.

Asbestos Patients Analyzed by B-Certified Radiologists The extent to which asbestos has damaged a set of lungs or even caused a case of mesothelioma in certain patients is analyzed by expert radiologists.

Studies Find No Evidence That SV40 is Related to Human Cancer Two upcoming studies by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), one of the National Institutes of Health, provide further evidence that exposure to simian virus 40 (SV40) is not associated with cancer in humans.

Celebrex Hits Mesothelioma, in Lab Studies May 6, 2004 The COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex, usually prescribed for arthritis, has a marked effect on the asbestos-related cancer malignant mesothelioma in lab and animal experiments, according to a report from Italy

FDA Approves Alimta-Cisplatin Combination for Treatment of Asbestos-Related Cancer Mesothelioma The first and only drug regimen proven to help patients with an asbestos-related cancer live longer was approved today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Group Launches Asbestos-Cancer Study April 5, 2004 DETROIT - Karmanos Cancer Center is launching a comprehensive medical program to study the effects of asbestos-related cancers linked with contaminated vermiculite, a mineral used in insulation.

Study Supports Development Potential in Several Therapeutic Areas New Study Reviews Novel Approach to Control Inflammation Using Melanocortin Receptors WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Zengen, Inc. announced today that its researchers have discovered that activation of melanocortin receptors (MCR) subtypes MC1R and MC3R could be a novel strategy to control inflammatory disorders.

FDA Approves First Drug for Rare Type of Cancer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) for use in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma - a rare type of cancer. Alimta received a priority review and is designated as an orphan drug. It is the first drug approved for this condition.