March 5, 2014 – A building owner has been charged with knowingly hiring unqualified workers to remove hazardous asbestos-containing materials from his building, located in the Logan section of Philadelphia. These workers, as well as residents living in the vicinity, now face the possibility that they may have suffered exposure to asbestos and the real threat that this can lead to serious and deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The property owner sought a bid to have the asbestos in his building properly removed. When he didn’t agree with the estimate, he turned elsewhere. He enlisted the help of a contractor who helped the property owner hire a team of unqualified day laborers to remove a boiler and pipes that were covered in insulation containing asbestos. No training or safety equipment was provided to these workers and precautions that would keep the asbestos from being released into the air were not instituted. In addition to the workers, nearby residents in the community may have been inadvertently exposed to the hazardous material.
A concerned citizen notified city officials. The authorities ordered the property owner to shut down the asbestos removal operations, but he failed to comply. Instead, he continued to remove and dispose of the hazardous material, allowing more asbestos fibers to be released into the air. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program eventually had to intervene and complete the asbestos removal process at an estimated cost of $450,000.
Business owners and property owners are required to follow the regulations and standards for the proper handling and disposal of asbestos-containing materials under the Clean Air Act. This includes hiring trained specialists to complete the delicate job of asbestos removal.
The Environmental Protection Agency investigated the case. The property owner was recently found guilty and sentenced to jail for a term of 42 months for conspiracy and violating the Clean Air Act. The contractor was sentenced to 24 months of prison time. Once released from prison, the defendants have been ordered to be under supervised release for 3 years. In addition, the men are responsible for paying more than $450,000 dollars in restitution.
Shein Law: Experienced Asbestos Lawyers in Philadelphia and New Jersey
If you believe that you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos or has developed an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis, we encourage you to contact the Shein Law. We have been successfully advocating for the rights of victims of asbestos exposure in the Philadelphia region for over 30 years. You can count on us to stand by your side and fight to protect your rights. Our asbestos attorneys will help you secure the fair and just financial compensation to which you are entitled.
Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, PA and Pennsauken, NJ; however, our lawyers would be happy to meet with you at a location that is more convenient to you, including your home. Call us today at 1-877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) to schedule a free consultation or contact us online.