The dangers of lead and asbestos have long been known. However, a lawsuit in Pennsylvania alleges that a school district hid crucial information from the public when it knew of the presence of both of these substances in district schools and did not inform the public.
Exposure to asbestos can cause a deadly disease called mesothelioma, which most often is a tumor in the lining of the lungs. In past years, there has been large-scale removal of asbestos from buildings in order to protect the safety of everyone who could be exposed.
In Scranton, asbestos and lead exists in nearly every school building. Some buildings are so contaminated that they have been forced to close. Currently, the school district is engaged in a process of removing the contamination from the buildings. The lawsuit alleges that the school district knew about the presence of asbestos in the buildings as far back as 1988 and did nothing.
The plaintiffs include maintenance workers and other school employees, including a school principal. They fear that their long-term exposure to these harmful substances may have future impacts on their health even if they are not yet sick. They are seeking to compel the school district to establish a fund for long-term health care and monitoring of the students and employees’ health.
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost always fatal, and there are many costs involved. Victims of asbestos exposure may have a claim against the entity responsible for their own exposure or the resulting death of a loved one due to exposure. Potential claimants may benefit from the services of a mesothelioma attorney. Defendants usually have an incentive to settle the cases, and an attorney might help their client negotiate a settlement. In the event that the case goes to trial, clients may ask their attorney to present the case to the jury.