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Meruelo Maddux Properties, a prominent downtown Los Angeles developer is facing a charge which may cause them up to one year in jail and up to $100,000 in fines. City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo has filed criminal charges against them for improper removal and disposal of asbestos-tainted material from an industrial complex. This was announced by him Tuesday. Arraignment in the case has been scheduled for May 3 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
John Charles Maddux, the president of the company and the project managers John Durham and John Horrigan have been named in the 16-count complaint.
The firm bought a seven-structure industrial site at 1060 N. Vignes St. and demolished the structures in September 2005. The state regulates asbestos handling as breathing the fibers may cause serious health hazards. So, the company had to provide required asbestos abatement notification to the South Coast Air Quality Management District before demolishing the structure. According to the allegation of city attorney, they failed to do it.
The city attorney said that the companies that endanger public health by ignoring the regulations that protect residents would be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"Air quality district officials had conducted an inspection last year which revealed that there were asbestos materials in the demolition area. However, the company could not document proper asbestos removal or show that it had been properly disposed of," Delgadillo said.
However, Michael Bustamante, a company spokesman said that the accusations raised by the city attorney were unwarranted. "The firm has met with air quality officials and is cooperating fully," he said.
The city Building and Safety Department had banned Meruelo Maddux Properties last year from constructing anything for five years on a lot near Union Station when they found that the firm had demolished four buildings without a permit. Later, the ban was reduced to 18 months.
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