Silicosis Hearing Held

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on March 7 focusing on the Committee's investigation into thousands of silicosis claims. These claims were originally labeled "manufactured-for-money" claims and remanded back to state courts by Texas federal judge Janis Graham Jack. The claims were later dismissed for lack of evidence.

Silicosis is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable crystalline silica. Overexposure can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs and reduce the lungs' ability to extract oxygen from the air. According to statistics, more than one million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica, and, each year, more than 250 American workers die from silicosis.

Scheduled to testify before the subcommittee were: Edward F. Sherman, law professor, Tulane Law School; Laura Welch, medical director, Center to Protect Workers' Rights; James Ballard, physician, Birmingham, Ala.; Andrew W. Harron, physician, Kenosha, Wis.; Ray A. Harron, physician, Bridgeport, W.Va.; George Martindale, physician, Mobile, Ala.; and Heath Mason, co-owner N&M, Inc., Moss Point, Miss.

Although they received subpoenas, Drs. Harron, Harron, and Ballard refused to testify, and instead, invoked their constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Mason, of N&M, Inc., which screened approximately 6,700 of the disputed claims, testified that he has no medical training and his medical screening company had no licensed physician on staff. Mason also added that virtually all of N&M's revenues came from law firms.

Direct questions to NAMIC Senior Vice President of Federal Affairs David A. Winston or NAMIC Federal Affairs Director Marliss Browder.

Posted: Monday, March 13, 2006 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Monday, March 13, 2006 10:30:13 AM.

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