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MIRED IN ASBESTOS
- March 7, 2006
Mail Tribune :: Online Edition
Oregon Road
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March 7, 2006
Roger T.
Curtis, an asbestos inspector with Environmental Management Services Inc.
in White City, walks around with an electric blower to stir up stray asbestos fibers for safe
removal from the former VIBES Main One building in downtown Medford on Monday Mail Tribune / Jim Craven
Mired in asbestos
Local environmental cleanup company wants to see legislation protecting small businesses from asbestos lawsuits
By Greg Stiles
Mail Tribune
When Tommy Malot founded an environmental cleanup company five years ago, it made sense to his customers and to his accountant.
Among the Central Point business’ major components was asbestos abatement and removal.
In the years since, Malot discovered even a remote association with asbestos can be financially vexing given the mass of litigation that has piled up for nearly four decades.
Last month, Malot journeyed to Capitol Hill where he asked a Senate panel to support legislation that would establish a $140 billion industry-financed trust fund.
The Fairness in Asbestos
Injury Resolution Act of 2005 bill by Sen.
Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would push tens of thousands of asbestos-exposure claims out of the court system and allow victims to directly apply for
compensation.
"We never produced, installed or sold any asbestos related material, and yet even our small, local company has been threate...
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