Miami Lawyer Dies of Mesothelioma: Asbestos Cancer Ends the Celebrated Life of Attorney Milton Ferrell Jr., 57
As South Florida mesothelioma lawyers, we have seen our fair share of work injury and wrongful death cases related to asbestos exposure at work -- usually people who've worked in construction, manufacturing, and the automotive industries. All of the asbestos cases we've seen are sad and maddening, as the deadly diseases caused by asbestos exposure including asbestosis, lung cancer, and the incurable mesothelioma are preventable.
This week we lost a legal colleague to this terrible disease, when Attorney Milton Ferrell Jr. of Miami died from mesothelioma at just 57 years of age. The asbestos-related cancer had cost him a lung in May, and though it had spread to his stomach, hip, brain, and his remaining lung, he fought to stay lucid long enough to give one final deposition. He died less than a day later.
Attorney Ferrell was a former Miami Dade County Assistant State's Attorney who later became a lawyer, Democratic Party activist, and philanthropist. He funded projects such as a Miami AIDS ministry and an orphanage in Honduras. He offered legal counsel to billionaires and foreign governments including Saudi Arabia, and he enjoyed great professional success and respect from his colleagues. Worth magazine named him one of the country's top 100 lawyers in 2006.
But as is the cruel reality with most asbestos cancer cases, Mr. Ferrell's exposure to the deadly asbestos fibers occurred much earlier in his life when he worked on cars, including doing break jobs, as a youth. Automotive breaks are known to contain asbestos.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Attorney Ferrell's family.
Attorney Milton Ferrell Jr. dies of mesothelioma MiamiHerald.com Nov. 18, 2008
Related Web Resource
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
