State of Illinois sues men for improper removal of asbestos

Bloomington, IL – The state of Illinois is suing a building owner and his tenant claiming they failed to follow the proper procedures for removing asbestos from their building and placing visitors at risk of exposure.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed the lawsuit against Merle Huff, the building owner of Front ‘N Center, and tenant Ben Slotky. The men are accused of improperly removing flooring material containing asbestos in March 2006 during a renovation project.

During a health inspection at the renovation site in March 2006, the state Department of Public Health found asbestos-containing materials. The officials told Mr. Huff that he was required to hire a licensed professional to handle and dispose of the asbestos, and they issued an emergency order to stop work. However, the project continued anyway.

Mr. Huff has been charged with not conducting a safety inspection of the area to check for asbestos, a requirement of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants regulation, before performing the work.

Mr. Slotky, who does not have an asbestos removal license, is accused of using unsealed bags to move the tainted materials and failing to contain and decontaminate the area where asbestos found.

The state is demanding that the men pay a fine as well perform any other actions the court deems are necessary.

**For a FREE information packet including treatments, clinical trials, and specialists, please complete the form above or call a Mesothelioma Web coordinator at 1-877-367-6376.

News

Resources

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376