Asbestos Contamination Delays Apartment Demolition in Atlanta

The demolition of a firmer public housing complex in Atlanta hit another snag after inspectors found asbestos in the buildings.

Previously, city officials said they wanted to have the long-vacant Forest Cove complex bulldozed within three months. The mayor’s office confirmed the plan after multiple fires in the abandoned property,

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the apartment complex has been a complicated challenge for the city for decades. As mayor, he said dealing with it is one of his biggest priorities.

On an unrelated note, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was investigating the complex and its owners for its management of the property while receiving federal funding through Section 8 housing choice vouchers.

Asbestos and Social Justice

Mesothelioma is primarily a health and safety issue. However, this asbestos-exposure disease also has significant social justice implications.

Most builders used asbestos instead of other insulation ingredients because asbestos was cheap. Therefore, asbestos was especially common in low-income housing, like public housing units. The high use rate meant a high infection rate, not only among construction workers but also among residents. These residents faced a much greater risk. Construction workers handled asbestos for a few weeks, and that was bad enough. Residents lived in asbestos-laced buildings, which were usually hastily constructed, for years or decades.

Low-income people also often lived close to asbestos waste dumps. Environmental laws strictly regulate waste disposal. However, inspectors often do not closely enforce these rules, especially in low-income areas. Furthermore, if illegal dumpers get caught, the penalty is usually a fine that barely exceeds the savings. This environment encourages waste disposal companies to take shortcuts. These shortcuts hurt people.

Lower-income people sometimes have immigration issues. These individuals often don’t come forward and file claims in civil court for fear of the consequences. Others believe they are not eligible to file claims.

A nationwide asbestos lawyer stands up for mesothelioma victims, regardless of their income, national origin, or anything else. All these people are entitled to justice and, more importantly, compensation. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are usually available as well.

At-Risk Victims

Low-income residents and construction workers are not the only at-risk mesothelioma victims. In fact, they are not even the most common victims. In terms of asbestos exposure risk, many industrial workers were basically a combination of low-income residents and construction workers. Industrial workers spent eight hours a day in asbestos-laced buildings as they handled asbestos-laced products. These industrial workers include:

• Shipbuilders: Asbestos does not conduct heat. Therefore, shipbuilders packed naval and other vessels with asbestos, mostly in highly flammable areas, like boiler rooms.
• Auto Parts Workers: Many auto parts must absorb as much heat as many ships. These auto parts include brake pads and hood liners. Even today, many imported auto parts, especially from China, often contain asbestos.
• Miners: Asbestos miners often did not wear sufficient PPE (personal protective equipment). As a result, they often inhaled these fibers.

Industrial workers were often unprotected. Friends and family members were always unprotected. An asbestos illness diagnosis usually blindsides victims. That is especially true for take-home victims who had no idea they were exposed to asbestos.

All these victims have legal options, and each option has some pros and cons. A good asbestos exposure lawyer carefully reviews your case, weighs the pros and cons, and gives victims solid legal advice.

Work With a Thorough Attorney

Mesothelioma victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. We routinely handle these matters on a nationwide basis.

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