On December 23, 2010 at a Commissioners Court meeting in Palo Pinto, Texas, outgoing Precinct 2 Commissioner Ed Laney and County Judge Mike Smiddy shared their concerns about Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Pierce’s moving county and district court records from the Precinct 2 barn to the county-owned Dempsey building. The worry was over the asbestos found in the Dempsey building in the area where the records were stored.
Laney and Smiddy believe that moving documents to this new and unsafe location could have exposed those involved in the moving process to asbestos. Whenever asbestos is disturbed, it’s carcinogenic fibers become airborne and are easily inhaled, causing fibers to lodge in the lungs and cause damage over decades. This damage generally develops into pleural mesothelioma, which specifically affects the lining of the lungs.
Laney suggested that the case be investigated and noted that the commissioners court cannot investigate itself. The investigation was then handed over to Sheriff Ira Mercer who forwarded the issue to District Attorney Mike Burns. Burns presented the case before a Palo Pinto County grand jury, which returned a “no bill,” meaning that the jury did not believe there was sufficient evidence to justify prosecution.
Mesothelioma Center News
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Palo Pinto County asbestos case abandoned for insufficient evidence
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Added Jan 6, 2010, Under: Mesothelioma Research
