I am newly registered to the Forum (although I have avidly "listened in" for a few years). My name is Neil Kitrosser and I am a full-time attorney in Philadelphia and part-time magician. I am seeking information that may help the family of deceased magician ERIC PAUL. Eric died of mesothelioma, a relatively rare form of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. His lawyer, who knows of my interest in magic, asked me if I had any ideas on how Eric might have been exposed to asbestos during his career as a magician or juggler. I understand that Eric used to juggle torches and may have used various fire apparatus in his magic shows (mesothlioma has a long latency period of 20-40 years, so we suspect he was exposed to asbestos in the 1970's or 1980's).

My question is: does anyone here know of other magicians or jugglers who developed mesothelioma? does anyone know what types of magic apparatus from that period contained asbestos? any knowledge of manufacturers of such equipment? e.g who were the principal manufacturers/suppliers of juggling torches, fire wallets in the 1970's, 1980's? Any help will be appreciated.

According to Eric himself his exposure happened long before his performing career.

"As an associate with Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler, Neil has successfully tried numerous asbestos cases, with several verdicts exceeding a million dollars (ranging from $1.2 to $4.3 million)."


http://www.brookmanrosenberg.com/attorneys/kitrosser/

Neil
Eric was a good friend of mine. I performed at his fund raiser, and I went to his funeral. Eric made jokes about his sickness until the day he died. When I asked him about his mesothelima he told me that he had no idea how he got it because "I never worked a day in my life". He did very little juggling in his shows, and his last day job was bartending (in Society hill) in the late 80's. I can hook you up with other of Eric's friends, but we have been scratching our heads since Eric died a year and a half ago. My email address is juggleral@comcast.net , and my phone number is 610-287-8365 my web address is http://www.juggleral.com/ . Eric died with several books in the can, and I would sure like to see his three kids get the profit from those books.

Are we talking about the same guy? Eric billed himself as a "Comedy Magician and Juggler". He did lots of juggling, and even published a routine with a ping pong ball, rubber chicken and a bowling ball in his Family Entertainer routines book. I believe I have seen pictures of him with flaming clubs, not sure how often he used them though.

- at any rate, Eric blamed his condition on his use of drugs (cocaine) in the 80's. No joke. He mentioned it in one of his last YouTube clips, recorded at his last conference.

Futureal
Eric and I were good friends during the 1980's, and he never offered me any blow. I have never heard that mesothelioma could be a side effect of cocaine abuse. I'm afraid that you are quoting the ramblings of a dieing man.

Thanks to those of you who responded to my inquiry about Eric Paul's possible exposure to asbestos. As to the suggestion that drug use in the '80's may have been the cause,there is absolutely no scientific evidence of any connection between drugs and mesothelioima. Approximately 80 percent of all known cases of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos. Some other fibrous materials and radiation have been suspected but not proven in other cases. Even relatively low doses of asbestos can cause mesothelioma, so asbestos might even account for more than 80 percent of all cases, but, as with Eric's case, it is hard to document the exposure. Anyway, if anyone has more information regarding Eric's possible use of asbestos materials, please let me know. Neil Kirosser

FYI
Just as a side note Eric is still making friends on Facebook a year and a half after his death, and his web site is still in competion with me on a Google search too.

I'm sure Eric is laughing at this whole thing.