Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Mishandling of deadly asbestos in a Jackson County courthouse led to the largest asbestos settlement in Missouri history.  Asbestos attorneys for Nancy Lopez, who is now deceased, alleged that contractors from U.S. Engineering mishandled existing asbestos in a Jackson County courthouse which led to the mesothelioma which killed Mrs. Lopez.  Prior to her death, Mrs. Lopez had started legal proceedings against U.S. Engineering seeking an unspecified amount in damages and as restitution for medical expenses and loss of income.

The engineering firm was retained to remove or seal off asbestos within the courthouse but failed to do so.  In fact, tests show that there is still a large amount of materials laced with the deadly mineral inside the courthouse today.  As a result of their actions -or inactions- a serious health risk arose at the courthouse, leaving employees and the general public at risk of developing serious illnesses. 

Asbestos was widely used in building materials between 1920 and 1985.  The naturally occurring mineral was added to many building products, such as wallboard, ceiling and floor tiles, adhesives, and insulation because it is highly fire resistant and adds structural stability.  However, the dangers associated with asbestos caused the federal government to step in and mandate that companies stop producing asbestos containing materials in 1979.  Regulations were imposed because manufacturers were still employing asbestos even though the health problems it caused were clearly linked to exposure.

U.S. Engineering Company is just one firm employed in the multibillion dollar asbestos remediation industry in the United States.  Such firms are legally obligated to adhere to a strict code of conduct which includes sealing off work areas, using special safety equipment, hauling off debris in sealed containers, and testing the worksite for the presence of asbestos after everything is completed.  If any of these steps are missed the toxic agent may remain and affect unsuspecting people – as it did with Mrs. Lopez.

She worked in the aforementioned courthouse for 27 years unaware of the danger she was in.  Research has found that prolonged exposure or repeated exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of mesothelioma and other such diseases.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Lopez learned first-hand and contracted mesothelioma.  She passed away in October of 2010. 

Mesothelioma is extremely aggressive and invariably lethal.  It strikes hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and almost 3,000 new patients are diagnosed every year in the United States.  Unfortunately, as was the case with Mrs. Lopez, diagnosis often comes too late for the disease to be treated effectively. 

U.S. Engineering, agreed to pay over $10 million dollars in restitution for the unwarranted death, tacitly admitting responsibility.  The tactic was engineered to keep the matter from going through a lengthy jury trial which may have resulted in a much higher monetary award for the victim and her family and would have undoubtedly shed an ill light on the company.