Fraud alert - veterans beware.

Almost all veterans had significant exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during their military service and as a result are at increased risk for the development of asbestos diseases including mesothelioma, an almost always fatal form of cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen. Any veteran concerned about symptoms might well decide to seek medical advice at his or her local VA hospital or clinic. If you use Google and typed in "VA Medical Center" along with the nearest city, the search might bring up a small map showing the location and a link to a website. If you clicked on that link it would bring you to a page that looks like it belongs to the Veterans Administration, with a nice logo and a list of specific topics down the right side. At the bottom of the page it even shows that it was copyrighted by the VA Medical Center.

It would be reasonable for you to think that you were now at an official VA website and therefore also reasonable for you to fill out the contact form or call the telephone number listed, thinking that you would be getting honest, objective advice from the government agency whose primary mission is to serve the interests of our veterans.

But you would be wrong. This website is a fake and a fraud. If you call the number or fill in the form, you will be connected to a law firm that is in the business of soliciting asbestos clients, largely for re-sale to law firms around the country. The only way you might figure that out on your own before contacting them would be if you followed the link to the disclaimer at the bottom of the website which would bring you to a second page, in which is buried the true identity of the law firm. Of course, real Veteran's Administration websites are located at "www.va.gov"

It may seem strange that a law firm would go to all this trouble to get you to contact them. However, it's really all about money. The selection of an attorney is probably the single most important financial decision any veteran will ever make in his or her life time, once there is a diagnosis of asbestos cancer. It's very important to you, but it's also potentially very profitable for an attorney.

These websites are designed simply to get you to call or fill in the form requesting a brochure. If the attorney can "get you in the door" he has a much better chance of getting you to hire him. But please ask yourself: can you trust any attorney who has to lie to you to get you "in the door"? If he's really any good at what he does, why does he need to lie?

Ethical attorneys do not lie, cheat, steal or misrepresent themselves in order to get business. I have spent more than 35 years representing veterans and other asbestos victims and their families in litigation arising from asbestos disease. My firm and I are very proud of what we do and believe we do it honorably. We are completely honest with clients at the beginning and remain so to the very end. There are other honorable law firms who also do this kind of work. Unfortunately, there are a few bad apples whose greed and dishonesty make us all look bad.

Veterans have gone in harm's way on behalf of all of us, and served with honor. Tragically, many are still in harm's way because of their asbestos exposure. Those who need a lawyer to protect themselves and their families from the financial devastation that can follow deserve an attorney who honors their service with integrity and ability. You deserve better than a dishonest scam artist masquerading as a representative of the Veterans Administration.

Learn more about Kazan Law: Helping Asbestos Victims Since 1974