Asbestos Litigation

An Elyria, Ohio developer and businessman has reportedly been indicted on charges that he allegedly removed asbestos illegally from a building in Lorain, the Chronicle-Telegram reports.

According to the news source, Lorne J. Elbert Jr. and his firm, Elbert Building Company, are accused of hiring an unlicensed individual to remove 800 square feet of asbestos insulation from the boiler room of the former Builders Square structure, which was demolished.

While Elbert reportedly sent a notice to the Environmental Protection Agency on July 19, 2007, stating that a licensed contractor would be removing the asbestos, the indictment claims he paid an unlicensed person $35 to complete the work on August 7, 2007.

Elbert, however, disputes the claims, according to the news source.

"They’re after everybody," Elbert said, referring to the Environmental Protection Agency. "It’s winter time, and there’s no flies to kill, so they’re out trying to kill business."

It is important that asbestos is properly handled and removed as exposure to the carcinogenic material can lead to the development of asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.