San Francisco Superior Court Judge Katherine Feinstein certifies Class Action Suit in Golden Gateway Center CaseSuit alleges severe and potentially fatal health risks caused by airborne silica at the site Air samples exceed acceptable limit of respirable quartz by over 55 times the PEL recommendations SF Attorney Drexel A. Bradshaw Represents Plaintiffs in Potential "Erin Brockovich"-type Case Media Contacts: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry 15 June 2007 - San Francisco, CA: On Wednesday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Katherine Feinstein certified what is certain to be a landmark Class Action Suit against San Francisco's Golden Gateway Center Apartments ( 550 Battery Street, San Francisco) on behalf of the approximately 1000 residents of the Financial District property overlooking the City's waterfront. The case, which was filed last year by San Francisco Attorney Drexel A. Bradshaw (www.bradshawassociates.com) against the property's landlord and against the landlord's contractor, alleges that illegal construction occurring at the site has exposed residents to severe and potentially fatal health risks caused by airborne silica. Additionally, the suit alleges that the construction performed was illegal and beyond the scope of initial permits issued. "We believe that this site, and the ongoing construction there, is hazardous to the public health and the health of the residents," said Bradshaw, who prior to yesterday's Class Action designation for the case has been representing several individual tenants. The original case was filed on August 8, 2006. "So far, exposure to silica dust has lead to the urgent hospitalization of several elderly individuals and children, those most sensitive to such hazardous conditions. This must stop, and has gone on for far, far too long." Air samples gathered from a certified Industrial Hygienist reveal that the Permissible Exposure Limit ("PELs") of respirable quartz containing dust at Golden Gateway Apartments exceeds the acceptable limit set forth by the California Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (Cal/OSHA). According to Bradshaw, the level of respirable quartz containing dust found in the Golden Gateway Apartments is over 55 times the PEL recommended by the PEL Advisory Committee. "Additionally, during the last year it has been revealed through expert testimony that protective barrier was put in place to contain air particles to construction areas. Insufficient safety precautions allowed for concrete dust, which contains silica, to coat residents' home appliances, furniture and personal belongings. It's a mess, and more to the point, a hazard to the public health." According to Bradshaw, tenants have demanded abatement of incessant noise, heat and airborne crystalline silica dust but have been continuously ignored. The longer a person is exposed to respirable crystalline silica the greater their chances of being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), lung cancer, scleroderma or other silica related diseases. |
