Mesothelioma Medical

Feb 04 2007

Tim Lacone, a dying Victorian mesothelioma patient filed a suit against asbestos manufacturers Amaca Pty Ltd.,formerly James Hardie, and Seltsam Pty Ltd. He expects up to $50 million dollars as compensation. He is 58. His claim is based on a a radical water filtration system he invented which has an earning potential of millions of dollars.

According to his lawyer Jack Rush, he got the disease after using asbestos sheeting to build a fernery at his proterty at Melbourne. This was in 1970's. Mr. Lacone was on the verge of marketing a model for a water saving swimming pool filter when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma last August.  "If it had got started, it's a figure in excess of $50 million," Mr Rush said. "The success, the dream has been effectively shattered." Mr Rush told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lacon's disease was highly painful, upsetting and enfeebling and he would die sooner rather than later.

"He suffers from a tumour, a mesothelioma tumour that at this moment encircles the vital organs in his chest. Its growth is unstoppable." Mr.Peter Wallace, the owner of the company Hurlcon said his company was about to purchase exclusive rights to Mr. Lacon's prodct. He said it had the potential to grasp 30% of the Australian swimming pool market. Though the filter requires further testing, there are no known product of it's type, Peter said. Under current limitations, the water-saving product would be  extremely scopeful. "In our current climate it would change the way we think about filtering swimming pools," he said. According to Mr. Lacone, Mr. Renhol who is an automated parts manufacturer had offered him around $300,000 as an investment for the product. James Hardie had acknowledged the threat of hazardous effects of asbestos in internal documents in 1965, yet the company had failed to warn their customers regarding the risk, Mr. Rush said. The jury will be requested to fix the amount of compensation to be granted to Mr. Lacone after Jeremey Ruskin, the QC for Amaca and Seltsam hinted the companies would admit a violation of service in not advising the consumers regarding the risks of asbestos usage. The civil trial is on Thursday and Mr. Lacone will provide evidences before Justice Bill Gillard.