The HPV-Lung Cancer Link: A New Issue for the Asbestos Bar?

011516_hpv_THUMB_LARGELong known for its link to cervical cancer, recent medical research suggests a potential link between the Human Papilloma Virus (“HPV”) and lung cancer. While the science in this field is still developing, it is trending towards a conclusion that HPV may independently cause lung cancer in non-smokersincluding those that have never smoked —  and may also contribute to the causation of lung cancer in smokers and former smokers.

Two recent papers have addressed this hypothesis. The earlier is HPV and lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis from Zhai et al in the Journal of Clinical Virology 63 (2015) 84 – 90.  These authors looked at nine published studies spanning 1995 to 2013 and covering 1094 cases of lung cancer.  They set the context by commenting that “Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide”  and “approximately 25% of those with LC are never smokers.”

The authors broke out their results for HPV in general, and for subtypes such as HPV 16 and HPV 18.  For HPV in general they reported:  “A statistically significant association was observed  between HPV and LC patients” and recorded an Odds Ratio (OR) of 5.67 with a 95% confidence interval.  Compare that odds ratio for the similar calculations that are discussed in asbestos disease cases involving auto mechanics for example. They then looked at specific subtypes of LC and noted:

We also evaluated the cancer risk of HPV16/18 in different LC histological types. In SCC (squamous cell cancer), HPV 16/18 was significantly associated with cancer risk (OR=9.78, 95% confidence interval: 6.28 – 15.22, P<0.001, l2=44.9%); however, OR was not significant in AC (adenocarcinoma) (OR=3.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.99 – 13.71, P= 0.052; l2 + 75.5%).  [Author’s note:  this OR is not “significant” because the 95% CI includes 1, but just barely so.]

In discussing their findings, these authors note that “Most people are infected with HPV at some point in their lives, but only persistent infections cause pathological changes.” They reiterate their conclusion that HPV plays a distinct role in the pathogenesis of different LCs.  They ultimately address the elephant in the room by stating “Whether smoking interacts with HPV to promote the development of LC is unclear.”

A second recent paper is Human papillomarivirus infection and risk of lung cancer in never-smokers and women: an “adaptive” meta-analysis; Bae et al, Epidemiology and Health 37 (2015).  One of their initial observations is: “The increasing incidences of lung cancer among women never-smokers is a global trend {citations omitted} and it has been suggested that lung cancer in never-smokers should be considered separately, a disease different from lung cancer in smokers {citations omitted}.”  These researchers note the work of Zhai discussed above and comment that they are expanding on it by analyzing women and never-smokers.

These researchers ultimately focused on four case control studies and calculated a “summary odds ratio” (SOR).  They found a SOR for women of 5.32 and for never-smokers of 4.78.  The authors conclude that the risk of HPV caused lung cancers for women never-smokers was expected to be even higher.

Given the substantial increase in asbestos-related lung cancer civil case filings over the past five years, the hypothesis, if ultimately proven, could result in novel new claims by both plaintiffs and defendants in the litigation. This issue has already arisen in a recent California case, in which a core needle biopsy of the lung tumor of the plaintiff was obtained and reviewed by two defense pathologists.  Administering an accepted immuno-histochemical test to that tumor tissue, the pathologists found it to be positive for P16, signifying the presence of the HPV  in the tumor.  From that, both experts were prepared to opine that the presence of the HPV in this plaintiff more probably than not caused or contributed to her cancer. The literature discussed above was part of the scientific basis they were prepared to point to in support of their conclusion.    Therefore, while more research may be indicated, in lung cancer cases for which tumor tissue is available, defense counsel may want to consider if testing for the presence of HPV is indicated.

Whodunit? Plaintiffs set up showdown between tobacco and asbestos defendants

On June 10, 2015, two well-known “asbestos” plaintiff firms, The Shepard Law Firm and Levy Konigsberg, LLP, together filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of plaintiffs Louis and Joanna Summerlin. Mr. Summerlin’s claimed injury is lung cancer, while Mrs. Summerlin’s claim is for loss of consortium. However, this is not a run-of-the-mill asbestos lawsuit. Rather, the plaintiffs have named more typical asbestos and big tobacco defendants Philip Morris USA and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company in a clear effort to potentially pit asbestos against tobacco in a “whodunit” battle over what caused Mr. Summerlin’s cancer. Time will tell if this tactic will be successful.

cigaretteAsbestos cases generally fall into three categories: 1) mesothelioma claims; 2) non-malignant asbestosis claims/pleural disease; and 3) lung cancer claims. While categories (1) and (2) involve injuries commonly associated with asbestos exposure, lung cancers claims are not generally associated with asbestos, especially when the person with lung cancer smoked cigarettes for decades. That is, lung cancer claims are generally attributed to smoking and, absent very specific underlying diagnoses and smoking histories, are heavily contested by defendants in the asbestos litigation.

The normal defense in a case like this is the obvious one: the plaintiff’s lung cancer was caused by smoking cigarettes. Here, Mr. Summerlin was a two pack per day smoker of six decades (1950’s – 2009). Given the lengthy, heavy, and recent smoking history of Mr. Summerlin, the expected and obvious defense of the defendants sued for asbestos exposure would be that Mr. Summerlin’s lung cancer was caused by smoking cigarettes. While it is unclear from his complaint as to whether Mr. Summerlin alleges any markers of asbestos exposure, the assertion that Mr. Summerlin’s lung cancer was caused by smoking cigarettes would likely be accepted by any medical professional, thereby calling into question plaintiff’s claim that asbestos exposure is a contributing cause of Mr. Summerlin’s cancer. This is especially true given Mr. Summerlin’s work as an automotive mechanic, which the defense has successfully argued on many occasions that the epidemiological evidence does not support a conclusion that an individual in the trade is at any increased risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

This is where the plaintiffs’ firms in Mr. Summerlin’s case appear to have taken a unique approach in New England in the pursuit of a lung cancer claim: they have sued both asbestos and tobacco defendants and alleged that exposure to both carcinogens acted as “concurrent” causes of Mr. Summerlin’s lung cancer. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that “[c]igarette smoking and asbestos exposure act ‘synergistically’ and in combination to cause lung cancer in persons, such as Mr. Summerlin, who regularly smoked cigarettes and were regularly exposed to asbestos.” For years, plaintiffs in the asbestos litigation have made this claim in the face of the smoking defense. Here, they make the claim with big tobacco in the room. Regardless of the outcome, it is guaranteed that counsel on both sides will closely monitor the success – or failure – of this strategy.

$17.7 Million Verdict in Los Angeles Smoking Lung Cancer Case

On July 30, a Los Angeles County jury found that Lorillard Tobacco Co.’s cigarettes contributed to the 1998 death from lung cancer of smoker William “Earl” Major. The jury reportedly deliberated for about a day before finding in favor of Major’s widow, Tajie Major.

In a 12-0 decision in Major v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., the jury found Major had damages totaling $17,736,700. The jury reportedly apportioned liability 17 percent to Lorillard, 50 percent to Major and 33 percent to cigarettes he smoked that were made by other manufacturers. The trial judge was the Honorable Amy Hogue. Plaintiff’s counsel was Gilbert Purcell of Brayton Purcell.

Tajie Major filed her product liability/negligence complaint in November 2011. She said her husband smoked Kent, as well as Marlboro and Winston, which were made by Philip Morris USA Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., respectively. Two other tobacco companies were sued along with Lorillard, but Major’s claims against them were dismissed before trial, but there has been many legal actions about smoking products now a days, including the e-cigarettes used to replace the conventional cigarettes, so for people that have an e cig lawsuit they can even get legal help online for this.

This case is particularly interesting because the Brayton Purcell firm is best known for its work in the asbestos litigation; its past claims against Lorillard have focused on its asbestos liabilities, as Lorillard used asbestos in the “micronite filter” of its Kent brand of cigarettes in the 1950s.  In fact, before bringing this tobacco action, the Brayton firm previously filed an asbestos-related complaint in San Francisco Superior Court in 1999 on Mrs. Major’s behalf, arguing that asbestos was the cause of her husband’s disease, and named Lorillard, R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris in that lawsuit.

This case represents a clear change in direction by the Brayton firm, and it remains to be seen whether Brayton’s success may inspire other traditional asbestos plaintiffs’ firms to enter the tobacco litigation.  The number of lung cancer cases being filed in recent times is increasing.

Madison County, Illinois: Open for Business to Plaintiffs From Everywhere

Madison County, Illinois, has long been a favored jurisdiction for plaintiffs to file asbestos cases, regardless of where they reside or where their exposure occurred.  This trend has accelerated over the past three years, with thousands of asbestos filings there each year.

Recently, new firms have begun filing there, encouraged by the prospects of favorable juries and favorable damages law.  For example, Madison County set a record last year with 1,678 new asbestos case filings, more than any other jurisdiction in the nation, a 42 percent increase in filings since 2010.  In the first quarter of 2014, out-of-state plaintiffs’ firms filed a majority of the new cases, a shift from 2010 when local firms held the majority.  Recently, when Judge Stephen A. Stobbs denied four forum non conveniens motions to dismiss, Madison County sent the message – loud and clear – that it is open for business and welcomes new filings from out of state.

Defendants in four different cases moved for dismissal based on forum non conveniens by arguing that Madison County was an inconvenient venue for the parties.  Beacher (Brown) v. American Biltrite Co. (Case No. 12-L-1392); Warden v. Caterpillar, Inc. (Case No. 12-L-1065); Murphy v. CBS Corp. (Case No. 12-L-1141); and Hunt (Munsey-Hunt) v. 84 Lumber Co. (Case No. 12-L-1140).  Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 187(c)(2), a court that has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter involved “may nevertheless decline jurisdiction of a case when it is apparent that trial in another forum with jurisdiction over the parties would be more convenient and better serve the ends of justice.”  Berbig v. Sears Roebuck & Co. Inc., et al., 378 Ill. App. 3d 185, 188 (1st Dist. 2007) quoting Vinson v. Allstate, 144 Ill. 2d 306, 311 (1991); see Il. S. Ct. R. 187.

Each of the four motions was predicated on similar facts: (1) none of the plaintiffs lived in Illinois, let alone Madison County, and (2) none of the plaintiffs ever worked in Illinois, let alone Madison County.  While venue was proper based on the presence of a Madison County defendant, the defendants argued that Madison County was inconvenient for all the parties and the witnesses involved, and the cases should be dismissed.

Despite the obvious lack of connection to Illinois, Stobbs denied all four motions.  Stobbs insisted that for defendants to meet their burdens under the motion, they must demonstrate which court would be the appropriate court to try the cases, whether such court would have jurisdiction and venue over all parties to the case, and whether this court would be more convenient to all parties to the litigation.  Stobbs found that the defendants’ motions failed to adequately address which forum would be more convenient and how that forum would be more convenient to each and every party. The defendants argued that the standard is almost impossible to show when a plaintiff sues dozens or hundreds of defendants at a time (standard in asbestos cases), and essentially makes the forum non conveniens doctrine a dead letter in Madison County asbestos cases.

These rulings herald that Madison County is “open for business” to asbestos plaintiffs, regardless of where the operative events took place.  This is all the more concerning given that numerous out-of-state firms have recently filed in Madison County for the first time, and its asbestos docket has substantially increased over the past three years.  As the West Coast becomes less attractive to plaintiffs because of legal developments in those jurisdictions, these decisions clearly solidify Madison County’s reputation as a venue of choice for plaintiffs nationwide.

Three of the four decisions are being appealed.  In their appeals, the defendants argue that Stobbs abused his discretion in denying the forum non conveniens motions in cases that have absolutely no connection to Illinois.  The defendants maintain that these cases should be tried in the most appropriate forum, the one with the most connections to the case.

The defendants also cite staggering statistics to support their argument that sustaining Stobbs’ denials would render the forum non conveniens doctrine virtually useless in Madison County.  The defendants use the firm of Napoli, Bern, Ripka, Shkolnik, which represents these plaintiffs, as an example.  The firm’s filings rose from 343 in 2012 to 548 in 2013, making it the top asbestos filer in the county.  Napoli also files a majority of the lung cancer cases in Madison County, which is particularly concerning because lung cancer is most often caused by smoking and non-asbestos-related causes.  The defendants argue that if Madison County opens its arms to lung cancer cases from around the country, most of which will have no ties to Illinois, then those filings will “overwhelm the docket, swamp the court and crowd out court resources that would otherwise be available to actual Madison County residents.”

As the Illinois Court of Appeals decides whether to overturn Stobbs’ decisions, Madison County will remain “open for business” for plaintiffs all around the country.  Regardless of whether those plaintiffs have stepped foot inside the state, worked for an Illinois company, or  come close to a product manufactured by an Illinois business, for now, they are welcomed with open arms in Madison County.