Indictment in Bristol County, MA Asbestos Violation Case

In June 2009, two brothers were indicted by a Bristol County, MA grand jury on charges related to violations of the Clean Air Act. The men are accused of improperly removing asbestos from properties in Attleboro and North Attleboro.

The charges against the men include:

Failure to file notices of asbestos demolition with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP);

Failure to conduct proper asbestos removal; and

Failure to comply with asbestos disposal regulations.

If convicted, the men can receive sentences of up to five years in prison or fines of $125,000.

The indictment alleges the men directed demolition work at the two work sites before asbestos had been removed, even though a company consultant completed the state-mandated inspection of the sites and advised the brothers of the presence of asbestos materials.

MassDEP investigators first inspected the properties in September 2007, where asbestos was found on floor tiles, pipes and other debris.

The inspectors also discovered 76 cardboard drums filled with demolition debris at a Middleboro, MA storage facility. The debris materials were determined to be asbestos-contaminated tiles and pipe insulation removed from the two demolition sites.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.