Mesothelioma Lawyer

The York County Pleasant Acres Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was sued by a former employer for wrongful termination due to her complaints about asbestos floor tiles in the facility where she worked. Mary Ann Gruzs, a beautician at the facility, noticed that in May 2005 the condition of the salon’s floor tiles had begun to deteriorate significantly - many became dislodged, broken and brittle. She made several requests to have the tiles replaced or repaired, but no action was taken for almost a year. While exchanging conversations with a maintenance worker at the facility led her to believe the floor tiles contained asbestos. Further, when the old tiles were removed and the floor was replaced, proper measures were not performed with regard of the asbestos risk.

Ms. Gruzs seeks assistance from the union and hence filed a grievance but her concerns were ignored. After filing her second grievance, the union allowed her to participate in a conference with a representative from the state Department of Environmental Protection in which she was assured that the tiles have been tested and presented no health risk to her. Unsatisfied with the response, she then took some of the removed tiles to an outside laboratory, which reportedly found hazardous asbestos levels in the tiles and mastic.

Later, Ms. Gruzs was informed that her grievance will be heard; however, she was fired before the hearing took place. This prompted Mary Gruzs to file a lawsuit seeking compensatory damages in excess of $350,000 with interest and costs and reasonable attorney fees against the County.

For more information, contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers at Williams Kherkher at 1.800.220.9341.