Simmons Hanly Conroy's Support Blog

Simmons Hanly Conroy’s support blog is a place for clients and families to find news, education, and inspirational stories about the following areas of litigation: mesothelioma and asbestos, dangerous drugs and devices, consumer protection and mass torts, personal injury and environmental litigation.

Latest from Simmons Hanly Conroy's Support Blog

For many children, adolescents, and young adults, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become part of their everyday lives. However, behind the photos and videos, mounting evidence suggests these platforms may be causing real harm.

Social media lawsuits allege that major tech companies intentionally made their apps addictive, leading to mental health issues like depression and anxiety in children and teens.

Over 1,700 social media lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), and this number is expected to grow as more families come forward with similar claims.

We spoke with Firm Partner Ellyn Hurd,
Continue Reading Q&A with Social Media Litigation Lawyer Ellyn Hurd

On June 6, 1944, when the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, it marked a critical turning point in World War II. Overwhelmed by the invasion, Nazi forces retreated back to the Seine River. The Allies accepted their official surrender less than a year later.
The pivotal invasion was dubbed “Operation Overlord,” but many people refer to this consequential battle as “D-Day” or the “Battle of Normandy.” Today, D-Day is remembered and observed in many of the ally nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
D-Day is observed not only because it kicked-started the liberation
Continue Reading Today We Honor Veterans on the 81st D-Day Anniversary

As the month of May comes to a close, many of us celebrate the beginning of summer with backyard barbecues and parades. During our weekend celebrations, it’s important for us to take a moment to remember the true significance of Memorial Day.
Since the Civil War, Memorial Day has been a way to honor soldiers who lost their lives in service to the United States. Their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of those who served alongside them, are what allow us the comforts and freedoms we know today.
“Think about the important role that veterans have played in protecting our nation,”
Continue Reading On Memorial Day, We Remember Brave Mesothelioma Warriors

The top-paid actor in 1974, Steve McQueen was best known for his roles in movies like “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Great Escape,” and “The Inferno.”
In addition to acting, McQueen was also a race car driver and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. However, his favorite role was perhaps that of a father and husband with a great love for his family.
“Steve McQueen was a true American icon, playing heroes who straddled the divide between the ideals of post-World War II America and the social revolutions of the sixties and seventies,” explained John Simmons, U.S. Army veteran and firm founder.
In 1980,
Continue Reading How Did Steve McQueen Get Mesothelioma?

Every year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) dedicates the first full week of April to Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW). From April 1 to April 7, Simmons Hanly Conroy will join advocates across the world in the fight to ban asbestos.
For over 20 years, ADAO has been dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos, preventing exposure to the carcinogen, and fighting to ban all use and imports of asbestos in the United States.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban on chrysotile asbestos, one of the six types of this mineral.
Until the
Continue Reading April 1-7 Marks the 21st Annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week

Mesothelioma is a disease that impacts not just the life of the person diagnosed, but their family and friends’ lives, as well. Mesothelioma caregivers often become the fundamental source of support and comfort for the patient.
However, being a mesothelioma caregiver can be challenging at times too. These selfless individuals put their own needs behind those of their loved one to provide care — whether that care is physical, emotional, or both.
While it’s natural to turn all of your time and attention toward helping them, it’s important to look after yourself as well. After all, you can only help
Continue Reading 10 Must-Know Tips for Mesothelioma Caregivers

Fire fighters risk their lives every day to protect their communities. However, the dangers they face on the job extend beyond the immediate threats of smoke and flames.
Exposure to hazardous substances, like asbestos in older buildings and PFAS in fire fighting foam and safety equipment, can significantly increase their risk of cancer.
Fire fighter cancer rates have left many first responders rightfully concerned:

  • Fire fighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer.
  • These first responders are twice as likely to develop mesothelioma compared to the general public.


Continue Reading January Is Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month

Asbestos is a known health hazard and is highly regulated by both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Damaged or worn-down asbestos-containing products may release fibers that can be inhaled or swallowed. Once asbestos particles enter the lungs or digestive system tissues, they can remain there forever.
Over time, asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, as well as other deadly diseases.
“Although the use of asbestos and asbestos products has dramatically decreased in recent years, they are still found in many residential and commercial
Continue Reading Top 10 Occupations at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in 2025

Millions of Americans have selflessly served in the U.S. military, prioritizing our nation’s freedom over their personal well-being. For many citizens, their courage holds a significance far beyond a commitment to defend our country.
Celebrated annually on November 11, Veterans Day is a tribute to veterans and a token of thanks for their noble service, including those who suffered trauma, injuries, and illnesses due to their time in the military.
Some of these ailments are psychological in nature, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while others may appear decades after service as a result of exposure to toxic substances like asbestos.
Continue Reading Veterans Day 2024: Honoring U.S. Veterans and Their Fight Against Mesothelioma

On September 26, 2024, communities across the country will join together to recognize Mesothelioma Awareness Day, which is dedicated to bringing attention to this rare asbestos-caused cancer and raising funds for mesothelioma treatments.
The day coincides with the annual Miles for Meso 5K Run and 3K Fun Run & Walk, an event organized by Simmons Hanly Conroy since 2009. This year’s race was held both virtually and in-person on September 21 and supported the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).
Over the years, our asbestos law firm has pledged more than $21 million to mesothelioma and cancer research while fighting
Continue Reading Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2024: Hope, Help, and Health

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that doesn’t discriminate based on wealth, job title, or social status. 
Mesothelioma is considered a rare disease, with only 3,000 Americans diagnosed each year. Despite this, it has taken the lives of many well-known public figures, including musicians, politicians, actors, and athletes. 
Many celebrities have passed away from mesothelioma, including the beloved actor Steve McQueen, the musician Warren Zevon, the football player Merlin Olson, and more.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, get a free consultation now to see how we may be able to help. 
Continue Reading 8 Famous Deaths Caused by Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos lawsuits are complex, and choosing the right mesothelioma lawyer to represent you can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
An attorney can help you take legal action and pursue compensation from the manufacturers of the asbestos products you were exposed to — but only a few have the experience and resources to go toe-to-toe against some of the biggest companies in the world.
Your legal team will be responsible for performing extensive research to determine how you were exposed to asbestos, identify which companies may be at fault, and assess all of the compensation options available
Continue Reading How to Choose a Mesothelioma Lawyer

“I have not received a penny…I should have had nine weeks wages now through no fault of my own,” said Nellie Kershaw — a young, hard-working British woman who died in poverty from asbestosis in 1924.
Nellie was a wife and mother who unknowingly went to a job for 14 years that slowly poisoned her. She, and later her husband, begged for rightful compensation as she lay on her deathbed, but ultimately received nothing.
Her death would become the first documented case of occupational asbestos exposure in medical literature — but Nellie never knew that exposure to asbestos could cause
Continue Reading Nellie Kershaw: An Inspiration to Stand Up Against Asbestos Exposure

Every year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) dedicates the first full week of April to Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW). From April 1 to April 7, Simmons Hanly Conroy will join advocates across the world in the fight to ban asbestos.
For 20 years now, the ADAO has dedicated itself to generating much-needed awareness of the dangers of asbestos, preventing exposure to the carcinogen and fighting to ban all use and imports of asbestos in the United States.
This year, GAAW falls just weeks after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban on the importation and use of
Continue Reading April 1-7 Marks the 20th Annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week — Here’s What to Know

On March 18, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the agency would be banning the use of chrysotile asbestos.
An asbestos ban was first passed in 1989, but it was overturned in 1991. Since then the government has failed to protect the public from asbestos and its resulting health issues like mesothelioma. As a result, 40,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year.
One of the few options for justice victims have had is through mesothelioma lawsuits filed long after the damage was already done.
The EPA’s asbestos regulation is a historic move to protect workers in industries that
Continue Reading EPA Bans Chrysotile Asbestos in Historic Announcement

As soon as asbestos became an industrial commodity in the late 19th century, the clock began ticking. Sooner or later, the public would find out just how deadly this carcinogenic substance really was.
The only question was how long it would take — and how many people would have to suffer needlessly before asbestos companies were no longer able to hide or deny a growing body of medical research proving the health hazards of asbestos.
From the early 1900s through the 1970s, the asbestos industry would find itself in a golden era, hailing asbestos as a “miracle mineral” due to
Continue Reading History of Asbestos, Pt. 4: Asbestos from Its Prime to the Era of Regulation