Umbilical Cord Blood

Umbilical Cord Blood is exactly what it sounds like, the blood that is contained in a newborn baby's umbilical cord at birth. When a baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped. Then, either before or after the placenta is delivered, the blood remaining in the cord is collected. It is then rushed to a Cord Blood Bank where it will be processed and stored for future use.

Both public and private banks exist for the storage of umbilical cord blood. Public cord blood banks accept donations of umbilical cord blood, to be used for those who need it, for no charge. Private cord blood banks on the other hand, store umbilical cord blood for individuals to save for their child/family, for a fee. There are also fees for OBGYNs who collect cord blood. However, they will often donate their time to those donating their baby's umbilical cord blood to a public bank, which makes the process virtually free. The doctors are willing to do this work for no charge because of the myriad of diseases that umbilical cord blood can successfully treat.

Umbilical cord blood can help treat many types of devastating illnesses such as some types of cancers (Leukemia and Hodgkin's Lymphoma are just two examples) and also blood and immune system related genetic disorders, like Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome. And, there are many doctors and researchers working to see how umbilical cord blood and the stem cells it contains can help patients with other illnesses as well. As a result more cord blood donations are always needed.
Umbilical cord blood can help treat many types of devastating illnesses such as some types of cancers (Leukemia and Hodgkin's Lymphoma are just two examples) and also blood and immune system related genetic disorders, like Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome. And, there are many doctors and researchers working to see how umbilical cord blood and the stem cells it contains can help patients with other illnesses as well. As a result more cord blood donations are always needed.

Understanding Structured Settlements

Have you brought a lawsuit against a company or an individual that you claim caused you permanent harm as a result of their negligence or intentional misconduct? (that’s just a fancy “lawyer” way of saying that you’re hurt and you say it’s their fault). Did you win or settle your lawsuit? If so, then you need to understand the basics about structured settlements, as it may be an important option to consider.

Ordinarily, when you win a judgment or settle your lawsuit the defendant has to pay you the judgment or settlement amount in a lump sum. Let’s say, for example, you have a form of cancer caused by asbestos called asbestosis. You sue the asbestos manufacturer, who agrees to settle out of court for a million dollars (don’t get excited or disappointed; this is just an imaginary amount for example purposes). You get a check for a million dollars, right?

That’s one option, but a structured settlement might make more sense depending on your circumstances. A structured settlement pays you in installments over time instead of a single lump sum.

Installment payments can be structured in a number of ways to suit your needs and to protect you from inflation. They can range from a simple yearly payment to complex arrangements consisting of an initial lump sum payment, monthly indexed installments, deferred payments, and special provisions relating to the future care or death of the insured.

Typically, the defendant would purchase an annuity (from an annuity or insurance company) for a dollar amount that is paid up front. The annuity provides regularly scheduled income payments as specified by you and your attorney under the terms of the structured settlement.

What are the advantages of a structured settlement? Well, for one thing, you are guaranteed a source in income for life. A second important advantage is tax management: you may be able to substantially reduce the taxes you would have to pay Uncle Sam on any investment income that would otherwise accrue from investment of a lump sum settlement.

Apart from the tax savings, it’s also important to “know thy self” when making a decision about structured settlements. Are you the kind of person who would head to Vegas, do a little world travel, buy lots of toys, and basically blow your money until you have nothing left of your million dollars in a year or two? If so, a structured settlement might be the way to go.

There are some negatives, however, that you need to be aware of. First, once you agree to it, you are stuck with the terms of the structured settlement. You cannot change it at some later date. Hence, it’s very important to be represented by a good attorney and tax advisor who will help negotiate structured settlement terms that meet your needs, such as protection from rising inflation. If you don’t expect to live very long, on the other hand, you may want a settlement that guarantees a minimum payment even if you die before the guarantee period expires. This can protect your family or beneficiaries from being left without financial resources.

Contrary to the suspicions of some uniformed plaintiffs, structured settlements are not intended to and do not (assuming you are represented by a decent lawyer) re-assess or change your award. They are simply a device to allow for payment of your judgment or settlement over time, or on an installment basis. They are flexible and can be structured to meet many needs and life circumstances.

People who receive structured settlement payments however may decide at some point during the life of the settlement that they need more money in the short term rather than periodic payments over time. In this case, some people opt for a structured settlement factoring transaction. With this type of transaction the structured settlement recipient can sell (or encumber) all or part of their future periodic payments for a present lump sum.

While a structured settlement is not appropriate for everyone, they can be very useful, depending on your needs. Your attorney can help you evaluate whether they are suitable for you. Some additional links with more information about structured settlements are included at the bottom of this page.

This article is intended to provide general information only, not legal advice. Please consult an attorney for advice in connection with structured settlements or any of the issues addressed in this article.

Structured Settlement Information

If you’re in need of quick cash there are many structured settlement firms who will buy your structured settlement and give you ready cash. The decision to sell your structured settlement should be made after careful weighing of the pros and cons. Once you are assured that it makes better sense to have a big amount of cash now than a slow trickle spread out over years, you should go about the process of selling your settlement in a logical manner.

How To Go About Selling Your Structured Settlement
The first step is to decide whether you want to sell the whole or just a part of your structured insurance settlement. Once you have made this decision you have to locate a good and reliable structured settlement purchaser. Since there are hundreds of structured settlement firms you will have to sift through them to find the best one for you. The internet is a useful tool for this purpose. Just log on to the settlement companies’ websites to see what’s on offer. You can get a settlement quote which is basically an estimate of how much cash payout you can get and on what terms.

You can compare the various structured settlement firms and choose a few good ones that have credibility and offer good terms. After you get in touch with them you will be in a better position to decide which one suits your needs. Be prepared to part with a portion of your compensation. The fees for buying your settlement will be reduced from the total value of the settlement amount. It may go up to 15% of the total value. The good thing about selling it is that you will receive a lump sum amount that is large enough to make a good investment or to meet any other financial emergency.

Structured settlement firms can act as the ideal tool to turn your loss into a winning situation. You can get enough ready money to do the things you always wanted to but never could for lack of funds. Build that dream house, invest in your child’s education or start your own business. With the cash you get from selling your structured settlement, you are free to make your best moves. So get the ball rolling, click here to get the best price for your structured settlement.

• Structured Settlement Info - Structured Settlement Sitemap
• Structured Settlement Annuity Buyer - Annuity Buyer Information
• Structured Settlement Broker - Find Out About Brokers
• Structured Settlement Payments - Get Information on Payments.
• Structured Settlement Purchaser - Information Related To The Purchaser.
• How To Sell Your Settlement - Selling a Structured Settlement is Easy.
• Cash For Structured Settlements - Get Cash For Structured Settlements.
Source:http://www.viatrustinc.com/structuredsettlementinformation.html

Minnesota Mesothelioma Lawyer

Chad Alexander, a minnesota mesothelioma lawyer, has a practice focused on mesothelioma litigation, medical malpractice and other personal injury and wrongful death cases at Minnesota'a only mesothelioma law firm, The minnesota mesothelioma lawyers of Sieben Polk are the only lawyers in Minnesota litigating on behalf of mesothelioma victims. .

Chad has represented many individuals and families that have suffered injury or death caused by exposure to asbestos or as a result of mesothelioma. Chad has handled cases arising out of Minnesota's northern taconite industry, aircraft industry, railroads, construction trades and office and school exposure, as well as cases involving individuals exposed to asbestos fibers brought into the home by their spouse's work clothing. In addition to cases involving mesothelioma, he has also represented clients diagnosed with asbestosis, diffuse pleural fibrosis and benign pleural disease.

Chad has successfully represented victims of negligent labor and delivery, farm machinery injuries and automobile accidents.

Chad's work has resulted in being honored as a 2007 “Rising Star” by Minnesota Law & Politics, an award given to only 2% of Minnesota lawyers under 40 years old. Chad is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Association for Justice, Dakota Bar Association and American Association for Justice.

He is licensed to practice in Minnesota and the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Education

Saint Mary's University, Winona, Minnesota
William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota

Professional Associations and Memberships

Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota Association for Justice
Dakota County Bar Association
American Association for Justice


Honors and Awards

Minnesota Law & Politics “Rising Star” 2007-08

Minnesota Asbestos Litigation

2008 - Newinski v. John Crane Co.: Dennis Newinski brought suit against John Crane Co., alleging that he had developed mesothelioma as a result of working with products manufactured by them that contained asbestos. Newinski worked for the Northern States Power Company for 35 years, from 1968 to 2000. He often handled and used asbestos gaskets and packing materials manufactured by the defendant in his work. Newinski was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2007.
Verdict: plaintiff, $4.6 million

2001 - Joseph Akin, et al. v. Koch Industries, Inc., A.P.I., Inc. and Hickory Insulation: Akin and his wife brought suit against the defendants, alleging that he had been exposed to asbestos while working as an insulator in Minnesota, and had subsequently developed mesothelioma as a result of that exposure. His wife sued for loss of consort and attendant damages making the same allegations.
Verdict: plaintiff, $8 million

2005 - API Inc., v. One Beacon America Insurance Company: In an interesting twist, API Inc, an insurance contractor company that is a frequent defendant in Minnesota asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits, took on the role of plaintiff in this case. API charged that One Beacon had failed to defend it from hundreds of lawsuits related to asbestos. During the 1980s, API was hit with over 700 lawsuits related to asbestos used. One Beacon America was the successor to General Accident Insurance, which had insured API from 1958 to 1966. One Beacon America refused to defend API against the lawsuits. API brought suit charging breach of contract and bad faith. A jury agreed and made one of the largest asbestos-related settlements in Minnesota history.
Verdict: Plaintiff, $52.5 million, including $27.5 million for breach of contract, $10 million for operating in bad faith and $15 million for breach of duty

Exposure to asbestos in the workplace can open the door for a personal injury lawsuit. Each state has different requirements that the plaintiff must use to prove their case, as well as a particular amount of time that they have to file suit.

Minnesota Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Information

With over 700 deaths due to mesothelioma from 1980 to 2000, Minnesota has one of the highest mesothelioma mortality rates in the country. It's not surprising, then, that it also ranks thirteenth in the nation for mesothelioma lawsuits. Minnesota has been the venue of several high-profile mesothelioma lawsuits, and has frequently been in the news over the past two years as the state deals with the fallout from a state health department study that revealed an obvious link between mesothelioma and the state's taconite miners

Vermont Asbestos

Asbestos products were used liberally in construction and in industrial functions prior to the mid 1980s. Structures built prior to that time will probably have some asbestos in them in the form of roofing or flooring, insulation or wallboard or caulking. Vermont has a lot of those structures, but does not have a large number of industrial sites that are known for asbestos exposure such as oil refineries and steel mills.

The two industries represented in Vermont that are high on the worker asbestos exposure list are paper mills and power plants. Those that were built prior to 1980 probably used asbestos insulation; people that worked in them may well have been exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. Vermont also has older structures such as Rutland Hospital and buildings at the University of Vermont that may once have contained asbestos. Employees that preceded asbestos cleanup in those facilities are also currently at risk for asbestos related health hazards.

Mesothelioma cancer is known to be caused by asbestos and is also known to have an extraordinarily long latency period. An individual can work around asbestos and not develop mesothelioma symptoms until twenty years later. The list below is a partial collection of job sites in Vermont that are known to have had employees exposed to asbestos.

If you were ever employed at one of these businesses, discuss the implications of asbestos exposure with your doctor and schedule regular checkups. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, contact an experienced attorney who can make sure that you receive the compensation owed to you by former asbestos manufacturers.


BLODGETT SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. BURLINGTON VT
GENERAL ELECTRIC BURLINGTON VT
HIAWAITHA SCHOOL BURLINGTON VT
MARY FLETCHER HOSPITAL BURLINGTON VT
ST. JOHNSBURY TRUCKING TERMINAL BURLINGTON VT
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT BURLINGTON VT
IBM ESSEX JUNCTION VT
INDUSTRIAL INSULATION, INC. ESSEX JUNCTION VT
GILMAN PAPER CO GILMAN VT
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL HINESBURG VT
NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY MONTPELIER VT
NORTH COUNTRY UNION HIGH SCHOOL NEWPORT VT
OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC. NORTH TROY VT
RODDIS PLYWOOD CORP NORTH TROY VT
GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE RUTLAND VT
RUTLAND HOSPITAL RUTLAND VT
AIR ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR ST. ALBANS VT
KOFFEE & TEACHOUT ST. ALBANS VT
OWENS ILLINOIS PLYWOOD COMPANY TROY VT
FORT ETHAN ALLEN WINNOSKI VT

Deaths due to Asbestos Exposure in Vermont

Vermont has not had the asbestos-related death rate seen in some of the New England states to the south. A study that looked at deaths due to asbestos exposure during the period between 1979 and 2000 found that in Vermont, there were 29 deaths due to asbestosis. Deaths in Vermont due to mesothelioma cancer were between 46 and 77 over the same time period.

The federal government has been logging mesothelioma deaths since 1999. Their data shows that between 1999 and the end of 2004 there were 29 deaths in Vermont due to malignant mesothelioma. The asbestos may be gone, but the health dangers linger.