May 16th, 2006

A judge has stated that a court transcript relating to evidence against two contractors accused of asbestos violations is to be unsealed. Defense attorneys have argued that revealing details of the transcript would stop their clients from getting a fair trial, but the judge, Barry Hammer, stated that there was insufficient evidence to back up these arguments.

Defense attorneys had argued that press coverage regarding the case had been inflammatory, but the judge stated that he thought that the coverage had been "fairly even-handed" and "somewhat more balanced than I might sometimes expect." The transcript was to be made available earlier this week, as it had to be returned from the Marina Court House.

The transcript related to the defendants, Skanska USA Building Inc., Nova Partners Inc. and their project managers, Anthony Jones and Seth Henderson. The defendants have been accused by the State Attorney General’s Office of mishandling asbestos even against the advice of their own experts.

The violations are said to have taken place in February and March 2005, and each of the defendants has been charged with eight felonies and five misdemeanors in relation to the case. They have been accused of handling asbestos "in a manner which caused unreasonable risk of serious injury or death."