Power Plant Demolition in Austin Delayed due to Asbestos Exposure

The people of Austin, Texas are more than ready for the non-functioning Holly Street Power Plant to be removed from their neighborhood, but now officials have told them that the demolition is going to take at least eight months longer, due to large amounts of asbestos in the buildings.

According to KUT.org, the Holly Street Power Plant, owned by Austin Energy, was closed in 2007.  Many claimed that residents near the plant had a higher than average rate of cancer. The legacy of cancer may live on at the plant, now in the form of asbestos exposure. Austin Energy reported that the company hired to demolish the facility found a lot more asbestos than they expected inside the plant.

Power plants built prior to about 1980, if not renovated, may still contain a variety of asbestos materials. Power plant workers are on the list of those most likely to develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

Diagnosed with Mesothelioma? Contact our Mesothelioma Lawyers

Since asbestos was used in so many ways, many people in various occupations suffered from exposure to the material. Asbestos was used so widely that virtually all that was involved with construction or design had exposure to asbestos in one form or another.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or any other asbestos diseases, contact our mesothelioma lawyers today at (202) 659-5500 for a free consultation.

CDK’s Tip of the Week: Asbestos is used in areas of industry such as aluminum smelter operations, steel mills, railroads, shipyards and construction sites, particularly those that have been in use since the 1970’s or before.

Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLPMesothelioma Attorneys

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Swiss Business Tycoon Sentenced To 18 Years in Prison Because Of Asbestos Deaths

On June 3, the Turin Appeals Court in Italy sentenced Swiss business tycoon Stephan Schmidheiny to 18 years in prison. Anti-asbestos campaigners are calling the sentencing a landmark decision that sets a standard for work-safety lawsuits worldwide. Schmidheiny, a 65-year-old businessman, owned multiple asbestos mining operations throughout Italy and Europe. Prosecutors said Schmidheiny intentionally failed to take measures to reduce asbestos exposure to workers and residents in the areas surrounding the mines.

Asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma. There have been more than 2,000 deaths caused by asbestos related diseases involving Schmidheiny’s mines, and now more than 6,000 people are seeking damages against him. In addition to Schmidheiny’s jail sentence, his company has been ordered to award 51 million euros to the regions affected by his mines.

This case will pave the way families affected by asbestos seek justice against big businesses. If you or someone you know has been affected by asbestos, contact our attorneys today at (888) 637-6347. Our Asbestos attorneys will relentlessly pursue those responsible.

[Did you Know: The U.S. Office of Compliance says the number one cause of occupational cancer is asbestos exposure. ]

Coppolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Mesothelioma Lawyer

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San Francisco Housing Complex Ignores Resident’s Asbestos Claims

A reporter in San Francisco uncovered what appeared to be asbestos on June 4, in a public housing complex, while conducting an interview with one of its residents. A woman, known only as Marie, was describing to Julia McEvoy of the poor living conditions at the complex when she showed her what appeared to be heaps of asbestos in the attic.

Marie said she found what seemed to be a storage area in her attic. Marie took McEvoy to the space where the name of an old asbestos company was written on a door, but she did not want to report it. When McEvoy peered through the door, she saw piles of asbestos looking material covering the surface and peeling off the walls. Marie said she reports the finding every year along with her annual certification to live in the complex but no one has come to check on it.

People who encounter long-term exposure to asbestos often develop asbestos mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has contracted an illness believed to have been caused by asbestos, call our mesothelioma lawyer today at (888) 637-6347.

Coppolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Mesothelioma Lawyer


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Possible Asbestos Danger After Moore, Oklahoma Tornado

There were many homes left destroyed and communities devastated in the wake of the F5 tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma on May 20. Officials are now warning residents of the dangers of asbestos exposure. The tornado that came through leveled so many structures that some disaster recovery experts have said the pile of debris from the tornado would be a mile high; many of those structures were built with asbestos.

A similar incident happened nearly two years ago in Joplin, Missouri when a tornado destroyed a number of asbestos built homes. Nearly 2,600 tons of asbestos debris was removed from Joplin. Experts believe Moore is facing a similar, if not worse asbestos exposure situation. Most of the homes in Moore were built in the 1960s and 70s, a time before the dangers of asbestos were publicly known. Common places asbestos would be found are in roofing tiles, electrical cords, furnaces and dry wall mud. Officials are urging residents, at a minimum, to wear gloves and masks when cleaning up.

Asbestos exposure is a serious issue, as it is a direct cause for the deadly form of lung cancer, mesothelioma. If you or a loved one believes you have been exposed to asbestos without our knowledge or consent, contact our Asbestos lawyers today at (888) 637-6347.

[Did you know: If disaster strikes and you are forced to cleanup asbestos, use an N-95 respirator, rubber gloves, rubber boots and goggles.]

Coppolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Mesothelioma lawyer

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