Over the 4th of July weekend, residents of the Mountainview, CA, Americana apartment complex were forced to move as the complex prepared for an asbestos abatement and remodeling project.

The project was spurred by a recent lawsuit against the complex over asbestos exposure that occurred in 2007 during roof work. This time, the complex owners, Prometheus Real Estate Group, plan to remove “popcorn” ceiling material containing asbestos.

Some residents expressed frustration over the short notice requiring them to move to temporary housing or terminate their lease early due to the asbestos abatement project. They noted that the project has been planned for months and residents should have had more notice.

Residents were encouraged to take all their belongings with them to prevent deadly asbestos dust from settling on them during the project; however, the complex noted that items left behind would be covered.

Construction materials containing asbestos, such as roofing, insulation and ceiling materials, can release microscopic asbestos fibers. These fibers can be breathed in and cause pleural mesothelioma, a rapidly progressing and deadly cancer of the lungs for which there is no cure.

Our mesothelioma attorneys often blog about the dismay and disbelief we feel over the rampant disregard for human life shown by people and companies doing asbestos remodeling projects without proper asbestos abatement precautions. Nearly every week we report on some careless project that released asbestos into the air. For once, despite the residents’ frustration over the short notice, we’re happy to report an instance where proper precautions are seemingly being followed.

On March 13th, the Honorable Judge Tobin and a jury of six found in favor of David Fortier’s widow, Gail Fortier. Our mesothelioma attorneys celebrated the verdict that held the Allis-Chalmers Corporation accountable for exposing Mr. Fortier to asbestos in their marine pumps during his 4 years as a Navy Fireman aboard the USS Forrestal. The award was the largest asbestos verdict in Connecticut’s history.

Mr. Fortier was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 56, while working as a correctional officer in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was experiencing breathing difficulties he assumed were from a cold that just wouldn’t go away. An x-ray and a number of other tests finally led to his diagnosis.

Mr. Fortier had just recently retired and the couple was looking forward to spending their retirement years traveling the country in an RV. The disease rapidly progressed and Mr. Fortier was so sick that he was unable to meet the grandson that was born just one week before his death.

Bids recently submitted to Vineland’s city officials for the demolition of buildings at 810 East Chestnut Avenue, in preparation for the building of a new firehouse, have been thrown out. The city’s Business Administrator, Denise Monaco, admitted that the city’s initial request for bids on the project did not include information indicating that asbestos abatement was an important factor in the project.

This oversight was discovered when city officials noted a large disparity in the bidding prices. As the city investigated further, they found that some contractors were aware of that asbestos was present in the buildings, and some were not.

16 contractors initially submitted bids for the demolition. “They should have taken asbestos cleanup into consideration,” said Monaco. “Some did take it into account, but the specifics should have been made clearer. That’s why we sent out another bid.”

The buildings involved in the demolition are an old warehouse, office building and one of the city’s oldest school buildings. The city assumed that, because of their age, contractors would automatically suspect asbestos.

We at Simon, Eddins and Greenstone, LLP, regularly monitor asbestos and mesothelioma news. And we despair to see a continuing trend of ignorance, blunder, and willful disregard when it comes to the safe handling of asbestos, especially in demolition projects.

What would have happened if Vineland city officials hadn’t become suspicious of the disparity in bids and chose one of the less expensive ones that didn’t include asbestos abatement? Would demolition have begun and only after asbestos was released into the air would it have been discovered?

Asbestos is a carcinogen that causes diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. It is a naturally occurring substance made up of microscopic fibers and was heavily used in manufacturing, construction and ships as well as other industries throughout most of the 20th century. When a victim is exposed to asbestos, they inhale or swallow the fibers, which then can become lodged in the mesothelial lining of the chest, lungs, heart or stomach and lead to deadly mesothelioma.