Asbestos News Roundup: 2.17.11

February 17th, 2011. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of asbestos hot spots from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

Asbestos Law

Des Moines, IA: The supervisor of a renovation project in downtown Des Moines has pled guilty to the charges of illegal removal of asbestos from the landmark Equitable Building.

Russell Coco, 51, entered the plea as part of a plea agreement with the federal government. He had been indicted on 11 counts of illegal asbestos removal, conspiracy to impede and impair EPA procedures regarding safe asbestos removal, and violating work practice requirements of the Clean Air Act. The violations took place between 2005 and 2008. Developer Bob Knapp was also charged with illegal removal of asbestos.

Debra Scorpiniti, an assistant U.S. attorney, said during the hearing that the plea agreement calls for Coco to serve up to 12 months in prison and pay a fine of up to $250,000. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two counts.

Knapp, 62, whose businesses are not affiliated with Knapp Properties, remains scheduled for trial Feb. 28 on the 11-count indictment for illegal removal of asbestos. (Des Moines Register)

Westchester County, NY: School janitor, Norman Morey, who was fired for complaining about possible asbestos contamination at the school where he worked in northern Westchester, N.Y., is not protected from retaliation. That’s the ruling that was handed down by the 2nd Circuit court and  upheld by the federal appeals panel recently. Morey was reportedly fired by Somers Central School District for complaining about fallen insulation.

Morey was head custodian at Somers Central High School, and a government employee. As part of his official duties he was responsible for cleaning up the insulation but not for complaining about it, apparently. The court concluded that his speech was not protected.

“The District Court correctly concluded that, on the evidence of record, any reasonable jury would be required to find that Morey’s speech was made pursuant to his official duties,” Judge Paul G. Gardephe wrote for the court’s three-judge panel.

“As head custodian, Morey was responsible for overseeing the general cleaning and upkeep of the school building. Indeed, he first became aware of the fallen insulation in the gymnasium because it was his duty to clean up the mess and report the potential safety hazard to the superintendent of buildings.

“Because it is beyond dispute that Morey’s speech was made pursuant to his official duties as head custodian, his claim that the First Amendment protected him from retaliation must fail,” Gardephe continued. “Accordingly, the District Court did not err in granting summary judgment for defendants.” (courthousenews.com)

Asbestos Hot Spots

St. Louis Park, MN: School authorities have decided to shut down Junior and Senior High Schools in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The decision was made after the asbestos floor tiles in the schools seemed to be breaking apart because of tracked-in sand and salt.

According to a state health official, the tiles didn’t appear to present an immediate health danger to the approximately 1,000 students at both schools.

“For any parent with kids there, they should not be concerned,” Dan Locher, supervisor of the asbestos and lead unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, told the Star Tribune. ”Most likely they weren’t getting exposed to asbestos”.

Experts conducted a detailed test after some staff at the school complained about the dust outside a nurse’s office.(topnews.net.az)

Asbestos Mesothelioma Advocacy – Wishing Well Miles for Meso 8K Run/Tribute Walk

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), combining education, advocacy and community as a leading asbestos victims´ voice worldwide, is pleased to have joined race organizer and mesothelioma survivor Larry Davis in the Second Annual South Florida “Wishing Well” Miles for Meso 8K Run/Tribute Walk. This inspiring event was organized to raise awareness and funds about the often threatening disease created from asbestos exposure.

“I’m fighting to stay alive everyday and now I’ve have taken the fight to the streets,” said mesothelioma survivor Larry Davis, “to raise awareness about asbestos-related disease and fund research that will prevent exposure and eliminate mesothelioma.”

“Asbestos is not banned in the United States, exposure to asbestos is prevalent and asbestos-related diseases are deadly,” said Doug Larkin, Co-Founder & Communications Director of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “I’m privileged and honored to be running with Larry, his friends and family and all the participants. I dedicate my participation to my late father-in-law Bill Shields of Yorktown, VA., who passed away from mesothelioma and all victims of asbestos-related disease.”

“More than 10,000 Americans die annually from asbestos-caused diseases and 30% of the deaths are caused from mesothelioma,” said Linda Reinstein, mesothelioma widow, Co-Founder & President of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). “As long as asbestos continues to be used in our country and across the globe, ADAO will continue to educate the public about asbestos exposure, work to ban asbestos, and expand our community support efforts. One life lost to an asbestos-caused disease is tragic; hundreds of thousands of deaths is unconscionable.”

The race, hosted by the Boca Raton Road Runners Miles for Meso club, was held Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at Spanish River Park.(asbestosdiseaseawareness.org)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma

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