Asbestos Litigation

A Massachusetts court recently ordered four companies to pay the state up to $80,000 for committing asbestos violations.

JDL Incorporated of Dracut, Sun Building, Kearney Square Properties and TopNotch Homes were accused of improperly removing and disposing of asbestos during work at the old Lowell Sun facility in Lowell, according to a release from Attorney General Martha Coakley's office. Specifically, the companies allegedly did not employ proper containment procedures during the abatement work.

The removal and disposal of asbestos is highly regulated as exposure to the naturally occurring substance can cause a number of serious illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell said that enforcing asbestos procedures is vital to maintaining public health.

"Asbestos abatement work must be done in a manner that is protective of workers and public health," he stated. "Our asbestos inspectors, investigators and legal staff will hold responsible those who fail to ensure that asbestos abatement work is done in compliance with applicable regulations."

The asbestos removal work and the subsequent demolition project occurred to convert the old newspaper building into condominiums, according to the release.