May 6, 2022
SPRINGFIELD — Lawyers for plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed over environmental hazards at the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse on State Street said they have reached a deal with the state, averting what was expected to be a lengthy trial in Boston beginning Monday.
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“We are thrilled with the result we achieved through this litigation, thanks to the courageous efforts of the named plaintiffs,” Morneau said after the settlement was reached. “And as a result of their work, the courthouse will be a safe place to work and a safe place to go in the near future for anybody who needs to go there.”
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Plaintiffs’ attorneys commissioned an independent environmental assessment after filing a class action lawsuit against state agencies in September, demanding that the courthouse be replaced or employees relocated until it gets a clean bill of health. That assessment concluded there is cancer-causing mold in certain pockets of the building.