Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

James Roger Edwards has pleaded guilty to asbestos violations while working as project manager for a condominium conversion project in Tampa, Florida. Edwards was hired by Gannaway Builders to convert the Indian Pass Apartments into beach resort condominiums back in 2005.

 

The trouble began when Gannaway realized that the ceiling of the old apartments contained asbestos. Because of the huge expense to remove the asbestos according to Federal safety guidelines, Gannaway decided to cover the ceilings with drywall instead. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, encapsulating asbestos containing materials so that there is no danger of the toxic fibers becoming airborne is an acceptable management solution. However, the technique used by Gannaway caused asbestos to be disturbed in the process, causing the potential to dangerously expose anyone in the vicinity.

 

Asbestos, when intact and in good condition, does not pose a threat to human health. It is when the asbestos containing materials are damaged or disturbed, causing the fibers to become airborne that a hazard is created. Once asbestos is released into the air, the fibers can be easily inhaled or ingested, years later causing serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or other related lung cancers. 

 

Asbestos contamination occurred in two different ways with the conversion project. First, the process used by Gannaway to cover the ceiling disturbed the asbestos. Workers were not given any asbestos removal training or protective gear, warnings were not posted, and federal and state regulations were not followed. Secondly, the ceiling then became damaged by rains, causing the need to remove it completely and quickly. Again, workers were not warned, protection was not provided, and safety standards not followed.

 

Edwards was working on another site and only after the ceiling was removed became project manager.   His crime, however, was falsifying documents during the federal investigation that followed. Edwards wrote several letters claiming that the work had been performed properly when, in fact, it had not.

 

If you think you have been wrongly or negligently exposed to asbestos and are experiencing any symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, please contact your doctor right away. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can also provide you with resources and help you to obtain compensation for your illness.