INFANT LEAD POISONING ON THE RISE IN NYC APARTMENTS & BUILDINGS
AT LEAST 19 children have recently contracted lead poisoning while living in public housing apartments that NYCHA supervisors falsely claimed had been properly cleaned of lead paint, according to the city Department of Investigation.
The kids, all under age 6, lived in 18 of the hundreds of apartments that managers running the authority’s lead paint-abatement unit said had undergone work approved by employees authorized by the federal government to handle removal of the toxin.
In fact, a three-year DOI probe found, workers with the necessary credentials were forced to sign off on cleanup jobs they hadn’t overseen. DOI’s report, released Thursday and spurred by a whistleblower, found 900 cases between 2016 and the summer of 2018 in which NYCHA lied — swearing to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the apartments had been abated under the watchful eye of a qualified supervisor. ‘NYCHA managers involved in the lead abatement process had a total disregard for the facts, for the law and integrity, and most importantly for the well-being of NYCHA residents,’ DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said in a statement.”
If your child was diagnosed with lead poisoning, he or she likely has developed the condition due to environmental contaminants such as lead paint in apartments or lead-based ingredients in toys or furniture.
The New York lead poisoning attorneys at Oliveri & Schwartz know how to determine where the exposure occurred. Our legal experts can determine the causal nature of the injury with testing performed by leaders in the field of pediatric neurology.
Progressive Nature of Lead Poisoning in Toddlers and Children
Lead poisoning occurs when lead levels build up in your body over an extended amount of time (months or even years).
Usually, lead poisoning is not detected until lead levels are dangerously high. Low-level lead exposure (10 micrograms in a deciliter (half-cup) of blood) can cause permanent damage in children. This low-level exposure is enough to affect a child’s brain development, which can cause lasting damage. Lead levels of 25 micrograms in a deciliter of blood can cause kidney and nervous system damage.
At extremely high levels, lead exposure can cause unconsciousness, seizures, and even death.
Common Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
The following complications are associated with lead poisoning in children found in their medical records include:
-Learning disabilities
-Speech problems
-Brain damage
-Language, speech, and behavior problems
-Decreased muscle/bone growth
-Poor muscle coordination
-Kidney damage
-Nervous system damage
The United States federal government and New York recognized the dangers of lead poisoning in children. They passed laws that require landlords and product manufacturers to remove lead-based products from their rental units.
The landlord, property manager, or property owner must take specific steps when maintaining older buildings to mitigate lead paint problems to avoid poisoning.
Statistics by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that there is much lead found in buildings in the poorest parts of New York City. Any release or disintegration of old lead paint can increase the blood lead level in pregnant women, young children, and others if the particles are inhaled or ingested. A simple blood test can help identify poisoning lead hazards.
New York Lead Poisoning Lawsuits to Recover Compensation For A Child’s Brain Damage
New York law affords parents with the right to pursue a legal claim on behalf of a child who has suffered from lead poisoning due to a poorly maintained premised or a negligently designed/manufactured product.
To pursue a claim, the lawsuit must be filed before the state’s statute of limitations expires. Any party who suspects that they were injured through lead poisoning can verify the damage through a blood test.
Our New York City law firm routinely works with lead poisoning cases and can provide IMMEDIATE legal advice on how to proceed. However, time is of the essence.
Injured parties may not be able to file lead poisoning cases if they wait until the statute of limitations in their claims expires.
New York Lead Poisoning Lawyers Looking Out for Your Child’s Immediate and Future Care Needs
Oliveri & Schwartz will evaluate all aspects of a child’s lead poisoning. We will FULLY prosecute all responsible parties to ensure that injured children recover damages for all their injuries. Our New York lead poisoning attorneys understand the significance of these cases.
We know that many of these children require both IMMEDIATE and LONG-TERM care to help with their deficits related to the ingestion of lead.
Our law firm offers FREE consultations.
We will NOT charge a fee unless there is a recovery for your child. Contact us today for IMMEDIATE HELP at 212-987-1100!
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