U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Syracuse, NY Area Lab of Falsifying Asbestos Testing Results

On May 29, 2009, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Syracuse, NY announced that a federal grand jury ruled to indict an area environmental services company with 16 felony counts related to an alleged scam where asbestos testing results were falsified.

The charges in the indictment accuse the company and a number of employees with allegedly conspiring reports regarding asbestos removal at countless homes, schools and businesses for almost 10 years.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State have mandatory requirements that must be followed when asbestos-containing materials may be present at properties undergoing demolition, renovation or asbestos remediation. The EPA mandates that environmental testing must be performed and that air quality testing must be performed before, during and after any asbestos removal project.

As part of the investigation into the alleged scam, the affected property owners and the contractors hired to perform asbestos removal were notified that asbestos may have been left at job sites.

The locations where asbestos testing records were allegedly falsified include:

Buildings on the campuses at Syracuse University and Le Moyne College, as well as retail, professional, residential, school and temple buildings in Syracuse, NY

Retail properties in Clay, Cazenovia and Wampsville, NY

Office buildings and a school in Liverpool, NY

Library, government and other buildings in Oneonta, NY

A library in Cincinnatus, NY

Schools in Baldwinsville and Dewitt, NY

The U.S. Attorney’s office states other property owners may be identified in the alleged scam.

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.