Asbestos News

A Lee County, Florida couple is upset with the municipality for allegedly allowing the dumping of asbestos-containing debris from a highway construction project on their property.

Charles and Virginia Huether claim that during a 2006 highway project, Posen Construction used their property as a dump, staging area and drainage pound, in addition to storing asbestos-containing rocks there, according to WZVN, an ABC affiliate.

Charles Huether said that Lee County is responsible for the damage their property sustained.

"The county knew they were trespassing, authorized that damaging activity and when it happened - they didn't deal with it," he told the news source.

The news provider reports that court documents show that Posen was unaware that the property was privately-owned.

Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah wouldn't admit that the municipality was to blame.

"I won't say the county is at fault," he told the news source. "I will say there are extenuating circumstances that perhaps the public doesn't know about that have to do with contractors like Posen and the amount of independence the county gives them to get the project done."

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.