Louisville, KY Area Blighted by Trash Removal Company Waste Abandoned on Property: Waste Debris May Include Asbestos

Residents in Louisville, KY neighborhood find themselves at risk for exposure to asbestos, a dangerous mineral known to cause a number of serious illnesses.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos disease, please complete the form on this page for more information about your legal rights to seek compensation from the companies responsible for your loved one’s diagnosis.

In February 2010, Louisville, KY news media reported on an abandoned trash removal facility and the potential health risks to those who live or work in the area where the facility is located.

Since the owner of the company was arrested in July 2009 on federal charges unrelated to his business, the facility has been abandoned. Throughout the summer and fall, residents complained about the abandoned site, which has become overrun by foraging animals.

However, the area is now faced by even more serious concerns: that the facility was used to store asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and contaminated debris. The owner of the trash business, who also owned a demolition business, had allegedly been storing asbestos debris from the site of the former Chevron warehouse in Old Louisville.  The warehouse had been demolished shortly before the owner’s arrest.

Asbestos Health Hazards for Area Residents
While news reports indicate the ACM had been double bagged and sealed, those who live or work in the area are at serious risk should any of the ACM be released into the air.

When asbestos fibers become airborne, anyone breathing in the microscopic asbestos dusts faces a lifelong risk for asbestos disease. The sharp edges on microscopic asbestos fibers cause them to attach to lung tissue rather than being expelled by coughing or sneezing.

The latency period (the time between exposure and when symptoms of asbestos disease are first noticed) is 30-40 or more years long. During this decades-long period, the asbestos can cause the lungs to scar. This scarring then causes chronic breathing disorders like asbestosis, emphysema, pleural plaques disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to develop.

In more serious cases, the lungs begin to produce the abnormal cells that lead to the development of mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer tumors.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.