Lawsuits are being filed by coal miners who were diagnosed with black lung disease after using defective dust masks or respirators that did not prevent breathing toxic coal dust.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting black lung induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a coal miner who has been diagnosed with black lung disease (pneumoconiosis), you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Disease Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
$67.5 Million Awarded in Dust Mask Black Lung Lawsuit
In April 2018, a Kentucky jury awarded $67.5 million in damages to brothers Michael and Leslie Cox, two former coal miners who claimed that 3M sold ineffective dust masks that led to their diagnosis of black lung disease.
Black Lung Lawsuit Ends in $8 Million Jury Award
In February 2016, $8 million was awarded to James Couch, a coal miner from Kentucky who suffered black lung disease after using a dust mask made by Mine Safety Appliances. His lawyers told the jury that the mask failed to protect him from breathing in toxic coal dust, which led to his black lung.
Black Lung Epidemic Comes Roaring Back
Black lung disease is a well-known occupational hazard for coal miners, with more than 78,000 deaths since the 1970s. The number of cases dropped off sharply after dust limits for coal miners were set by the 1969 Coal Act — but now, the disease has come roaring back.
CDC Reports 60 Cases of Progressive Massive Fibrosis
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a surge of 60 cases of Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) in Eastern Kentucky between January 2015 and August 2016. PMF is an advanced stage of black lung disease. The CDC blamed poor dust control in underground coal mines and recent changes in extraction techniques.
What is Black Lung?
Black lung disease, also known as pneumoconiosis, is an occupational hazard faced by coal miners that is caused by breathing in coal dust. Over several years of breathing coal dust, tiny particles accumulate in the lungs and cause inflammation and tissue damage.
Symptoms of Black Lung Disease
Patients with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis may experience symptoms, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Coughing up black mucous
- Pain when breathing
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma (excessive hardening of the skin)
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Death
What is the problem?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is nationally recognized as a class action law firm, but we are not filing a black lung class action lawsuit. Instead, we are filing individual lawsuits for coal miners who were diagnosed with black lung disease after using defective dust masks or respirators.
About Class Action
Class actions represent everyone with a similar legal claim, such as buying a defective product. If money is awarded through a settlement or jury verdict, everyone who joins the class action shares the payout.
Why Our Law Firm is Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Class Action
The problem is that class actions can have major disadvantages for individuals who have far more serious legal claims than the average person. Instead of a class action, our lawyers are filing individual lawsuits so we can focus on helping our clients seek compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, disability, lost income, and more.
Do I have a Black Lung Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting black lung induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a coal miner who has been diagnosed with black lung disease (pneumoconiosis), you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Disease Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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