Detroit Metro Tower Air Traffic Controllers File Lawsuit Alleging Improper Mold

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Detroit Metro Tower Air Traffic Controllers File Lawsuit Alleging Improper

Mold Removal and Health Effects

DETROIT, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Air traffic controllers

from the Detroit Metro Air Traffic Control Tower have filed a lawsuit in

Wayne County (Mich.) Circuit Court regarding a nearly three-year-old

problem of toxic black mold that has sickened many controllers, including

several who have missed significant amounts of work and continue to suffer

breathing and other serious health problems.

The suit contains allegations that contractors hired by the Federal

Aviation Administration failed to properly remove mold, provide a work plan

for effective removal of mold contamination, have a certified industrial

hygienist present during remediation, conduct proper testing including

clearance testing, and to advise the FAA of the deficiencies in their

efforts to remediate the mold.

The problem began in January 2005 with efforts to remove mold and

correct a moisture problem in the tower. Controllers allege that the

contractors' actions in wiping down drywall with soap and water, not

utilizing safety precautions to protect controllers during remediation and

executing other work plans outside the scope of industry standards,

protocols and guidelines have not corrected the problems, thereby harming

controller health. The complaint alleges that toxic mold remains in the

building.

The parties named in the suit are MIS Corporation, Coach's Catastrophic

Cleaning & Restoration Services, Inc., Tillotson Environmental Occupational

Consulting, Clayton Environmental Consultants, Bureau Veritas North

American, Inc., s Facilities, Inc., Safe Technology, Inc., and Applied

Environmental, Inc.

The air traffic controllers are represented by the law firms of Dodd B.

Fisher, PLC, of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and Mancini, Schreuder, Kline &

Conrad, P.C., of Warren, Mich.

" The air traffic controllers at the Detroit Metro Tower continue to be

exposed to toxic microbial and are suffering significant health problems, "

said Vince Sugent, Detroit Tower NATCA Facility Representative. " The

controllers are also concerned with reprisal for coming forward. "

Specifically, controllers have the following concerns:

-- continual exposure to microbial toxins

-- declining health and long term health effects

-- effects on their ability to think clearly, since black mold affects the

brain and central nervous system

-- loss of income and future earnings

-- reprisal for coming forward

SOURCE National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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