Asbestos in Des Moines, Iowa Brings Fines, Potential Lawsuit, to Area Company

According to a February 2009 article in The Des Moines Register, an area company may be facing litigation for failing to remove asbestos materials from a site in neighboring Bondurant, Iowa.

The company disposed of construction and demolition materials the on the land, which was later tested by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Five of nine samples taken from the site in January 2007 contained asbestos.

The Iowa DNR requires materials at waste sites to be 50 percent clean dirt and 50 percent soil, sand, rubble and a “minimal amount” of other construction-type materials. Instead, the DNR inspection showed the site mater contained a larger percentage of other materials, including plastic, construction materials and asbestos debris.

While the company removed approximately 70,000 tons of debris from the site, the company has been assessed fines for their failure to remove the remaining 30,000 tons of contaminated debris. The DNR and other government entities are now considering whether to file a lawsuit against the company.

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

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form below, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.