Couple Protects Health in Landmark Secondhand Smoke Case

A Dublin couple has set a legal precedent by using the city's landmark secondhand smoke nuisance law, actively supported by the American Lung Association of California, to obtain a temporary retraining order to stop a neighbor from smoking near their apartment.

Nancy and Chuck Sanders had tried for more than a year to get their neighbor to stop smoking close to their apartment on Cottonwood Circle because the secondhand smoke was entering their unit through a ventilation system.

In unrelated health news, Pasadena, CA has passed a smoking ban that includs the Rose Parade, according to the American Lung Association of California.

"People can now enjoy a smoke-free Rose Parade thanks to a new outdoor smoking ban in nonresidential areas of Pasadena supported by the American Lung Association of California," stated a press release.

For more information, contact Steven Gallegos at 213-384-5864 or sgallegos@alac.org.

In other health news, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network announced the passing of Dr. Ron Davis from the disease. Davis was the former president of the American Medical Association, according to research.

"November being National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, it is especially tragic losing such a prominent gastroenterologist," said Virginia Griffin, volunteer Fort Worth Affiliate Coordinator for the Network who also lost her brother, niece, and some friends to the illness.

"Dr. Davis was a friend of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and we send our condolences to the Davis family, his friends, and colleagues at the American Medical Association," stated Jennifer Reeves, public relations manager of the Network. "Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and 75 percent of patients diagnosed die within one year."

The Network is the national organization advocating for more aggressive federal research funding of medical breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer.