Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has announced settlements requiring the first payments into the Environmental Justice Trust. These consent judgments stem from a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against JDC Demo & Abatement LLC, JDC Demolition Company, Inc., John Moriarty and Associates, Inc., and TRC Companies, Inc. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and asbestos regulations during redevelopment of the former Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in Cambridge.
The settlements with TRC and Moriarty will result in $155,000 being deposited into the Trust to resolve claims against these companies. The case continues against the other defendants.
AG Campbell stated: “I’m extremely proud that funds from these two settlements will be used as our first deposits into the Commonwealth’s new Environmental Justice Trust, advancing environmental and climate justice in communities most impacted by climate change.”
TRC agreed to pay a $110,000 penalty with $42,500 directed to the Environmental Justice Trust for projects addressing environmental harms in disadvantaged communities. Moriarty's pending court agreement involves a $225,000 penalty with $112,500 allocated to the Trust.
The AGO administers this trust fund to support projects benefiting disadvantaged communities' environmental or health needs but has not yet determined recipients for initial funding.
The lawsuit alleges improper handling of asbestos-contaminated debris at the courthouse site exposed workers and nearby residents to health risks. Asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses if inhaled.
AG Campbell prioritizes asbestos safety under her "Healthy Buildings, Healthy Air" Initiative. Since 2016, her office has secured over $7.7 million in civil penalties for asbestos violations with MassDEP's help.
Deputy Division Chief Lou Dundin and Assistant Attorney General John S. Craig managed these matters for AGO’s Environmental Protection Division alongside MassDEP staff.