The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office announced that Suffolk Superior Court has approved a consent judgment requiring JDC Demo & Abatement LLC and JDC Demolition Company, Inc. to pay $325,000 in penalties for violations related to asbestos abatement at the former Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in Cambridge.
According to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the companies failed to follow proper procedures during the removal of asbestos-contaminated debris. The AGO alleged that JDC allowed asbestos-containing materials to mix with general demolition debris and become exposed to air, and did not secure contaminated debris for safe transport, storage, or disposal. These actions were said to endanger public health, environmental safety, and potentially the safety of employees and contractors.
Under the terms of the agreement, $50,000 of the penalty may be suspended for two years if JDC complies fully with enhanced reporting standards and training requirements set out in the Consent Judgment. Of the total settlement amount, $137,500 will go into the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Trust. This fund supports projects addressing environmental harms in disadvantaged communities across Massachusetts.
The case also involved John Moriarty and Associates as general contractor and TRC Companies as asbestos consultant. Both firms previously settled with the AGO: TRC Companies agreed to pay a $110,000 penalty—$42,500 of which went into the Environmental Justice Trust—and Moriarty agreed to pay $225,000 with half deposited into the Trust.
Asbestos is regulated under federal law due to its hazardous nature; improper handling can release fibers that remain airborne for up to 72 hours and pose significant health risks including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
“The AGO is committed to using all the tools at its disposal to ensure that every Massachusetts resident can live in healthy and safe communities,” said representatives from the office. “If you believe that you may have been exposed to asbestos at work, home, school, or in public, please file a report with MassDEP, or call the AGO at 617-727-8400.”
The Environmental Justice Trust was established in 2024 through civil penalties obtained by settlements from cases like this one. It aims to address economic and health burdens related to environmental issues within disadvantaged communities.
Deputy Division Chief Lou Dundin and Assistant Attorney General John S. Craig handled this case for the AGO’s Environmental Protection Division with support from staff at MassDEP Northeastern Region.
