Firm Build executives plead not guilty in asbestos exposure suit, mesothelioma fears mount

Rudy Buendia III, Patrick Bowman and Joseph Cuellar, all former Firm Build executives, pleaded not guilty on Monday, June 7 to allegations claiming they had exposed high school students to asbestos materials. The students’ families are concerned that they may one day develop the fatal cancer mesothelioma as a result of said exposures.

The three former executives are each being charged with five felony counts of child endangerment, along with five counts of knowingly exposing the students to toxic asbestos materials.

The three men had turned themselves into law enforcement after prosecutors had accused the men of using teens to remove asbestos from the Automotive Training Center at Castle Commerce Center in California. The work took place under the direction of Firm Build between September 2005 and March 2006.

After receiving a witness tip, the district attorney’s office launched the seven month asbestos investigation in November 2009. Five victims have stepped forward; however, up to 80 students may have been affected by the men’s alleged violations.

If the students had indeed inhaled the airborne asbestos particles, they would be put at risk for contacting a variety of asbestos related diseases–such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelium, is difficult for mesothelioma doctors to diagnosis.

Symptoms of the disease, such as coughing and chest pain, may not arise for 30-50 years. Mesothelioma treatment, due to the disease’s dormant nature, typically comes too late for patients.

According to the Merced Sunstar, it has been noted that the men will hopefully be released. Temple also noted that, though problems with asbestos were identified in the building, proper precautions to exposure were taken.