Asbestos is a dangerous cancer-causing mineral that is present in many buildings on campus at The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness connected to exposure to asbestos, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, after attending or working at The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State University), you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Now is the time to take action and seek justice. Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP at (866) 871-7971 to schedule a free case consultation with one of our intake specialists today.
How Can Bailey & Glasser, LLP Help?
- We have a highly experienced team of asbestos attorneys ready to defend the rights of those exposed to asbestos on The Pennsylvania State University’s campus.
- Our asbestos mesothelioma lawyers have obtained over $90 million on behalf of past clients. We have what it takes to go up against any defendant, including colleges and universities.
- We offer contingency-based representation for asbestos cases against The Pennsylvania State University. This means you won’t owe us any attorney’s fees unless we secure financial compensation for you.
Is Asbestos Present at The Pennsylvania State University?
Yes. Many of The Pennsylvania State University’s current buildings were built in the 1940s through the early 1980s – before asbestos was confirmed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1987. This means that many building materials used in the construction of buildings at The Pennsylvania State University contain asbestos. Examples include ceiling sprays, ceiling and floor tiles, wall plasters, linoleum, duct insulation, boiler and tank thermal insulations, pipes, and lab bench tops.
Out of the 312 buildings on the University Park campus, more than 100 buildings are known to hold asbestos:
- Agricultural Seed
- Animal Diagnostic Lab, Old/South Wing
- ARL (Applied Science)
- Armsby
- Boucke
- Buckhout Lab
- Carpenter
- Chambers
- Chandlee Lab
- Computer
- Dairy Barns C, D, F
- Dairy Administration A
- Deike
- Eisenhower Auditorium
- Electrical Engineering West
- Fisher Hall
- Ford
- Forest Resources Lab
- Gypsy Moth Research
- Hamilton Hall
- Hammond
- Headhouse II
- Henderson (North)
- Kern
- Land and Water Research
- Mastitis Research Barn
- McKee Hall
- Moore
- Mushroom Research
- Old Main
- Osmond Lab
- Oswald Tower
- Pattee Library
- Paterno Library
- Pond Lab
- Porter Hall
- Rackley
- Rec Hall
- Research Center Storage I
- Research Unit A
- Research Unit B
- Research Unit C
- Ritenour (west wing basement and first floor only)
- Ritner Hall
- Sackett
- Shields
- Shunk Hall
- Sparks
- Sproul Hall
- Swine Research
- Theatre (formerly Arts)
- Thompson Hall
- Waste Water Treatment Plant (Old Lab Building)
- Wiley Lab
- Willard
- Wolf Hall
Below is a map of The Pennsylvania State University’s asbestos-contaminated buildings:
If you worked, taught or lived in any of these buildings at The Pennsylvania State University, you may be entitled to financial compensation for a subsequent diagnosis of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness. Note that it can take several decades (20-60+ years) for mesothelioma to develop after being exposed to asbestos.
What Are the Risks Posed by Exposure to Asbestos at The Pennsylvania State University?
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure (source: the National Cancer Institute). Being exposed to asbestos on campus at The Pennsylvania State University even one time could potentially lead to a related medical diagnosis. However, those who frequent The Pennsylvania State University regularly – such as students, faculty and staff – are at an increased risk of related illnesses.
The health risks associated with exposure to asbestos include:
- Mesothelioma – a rare, progressive and fatal type of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs (the pleura), the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity.
- Asbestosis – a lung disease from inhaling asbestos particles, causing severe fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs.
- Lung cancer – tumors that form inside of the lung (rather than the lining) from inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers.
- Other types of cancer – several other forms of cancer are also connected to exposure to asbestos, including esophageal, laryngeal, lung and ovarian cancers.
Unfortunately, many of these illnesses do not have a cure. Although medical treatments may allow a victim to improve his or her quality of life and control related symptoms, some of the diseases are permanent. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with any type of cancer, illness or disease connected to exposure to asbestos as a student or staff member of The Pennsylvania State University, you may be eligible for compensation.
What Is The Pennsylvania State University Doing to Protect its Staff and Students From Asbestos?
The Pennsylvania State University has an asbestos management program in place that is meant to protect students and staff members from exposure. Under this management policy, asbestos is only handled and removed when necessary, such as before construction projects, renovations or demolitions, when asbestos-containing materials could be disturbed and release asbestos into the air. The Pennsylvania State University also has specific guidelines for asbestos identification, removal on campus, contractor qualifications and project planning.
Despite the known risks posed by asbestos-containing materials on campus, The Pennsylvania State University is not currently doing anything to actively clear its buildings of asbestos. When the manufacturer of the university’s building materials, Johns Manville, filed for bankruptcy, The Pennsylvania State University’s lawsuit only resulted in a fraction of the $8.5 million the university sued for. When officials at Penn State realized that they would be financially responsible for asbestos cleanup, they switched their policy from removing as much asbestos as possible to as little as possible.
Do You Have the Right to File an Injury Claim as a Student or Teacher at The Pennsylvania State University?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness after spending time on PSU’s campus, you may be eligible to file a claim or lawsuit. Similar lawsuits have already been filed, including a wrongful death case filed by the family of a former Penn State professor that alleges that the victim passed away from mesothelioma after spending years working in dangerous conditions on campus.
Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits for asbestos-related illnesses are typically based on negligence. This plaintiff’s legal theory alleges that a defendant owed the victim a duty of care, breached or violated this duty of care, and that this breach caused the victim’s injury, illness or death. For this type of case to succeed, you or your lawyer must prove that Penn State was negligent in protecting its students and faculty from asbestos exposure.
If you were working at The Pennsylvania State University at the time of exposure, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove fault or negligence. Most employers in Pennsylvania, including colleges and universities, must offer workers’ comp benefits to employees who are diagnosed with injuries or illnesses due to activities performed within the course or scope of employment. To determine which type of legal action is right for you, consult with an attorney.
Contact Us Today
We are ready to help if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos at The Pennsylvania State University and are now suffering from mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or any other disease related to asbestos. At Bailey & Glasser, LLP, we believe that college should not cause cancer. We are dedicated to helping clients go up against The Pennsylvania State University and other defendants to seek justice and maximum financial compensation for their losses.
To learn more about your legal rights, contact our team of attorneys. Reach an intake specialist today by calling (866) 871-7971 or contacting us online anytime.
