Wednesday, February 08, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: LADRAY B. GILBERT, ESQUIRE
THE GILBERT FIRM, P.A.
4257 LAFAYETTE STREET
MARIANNA, FLORIDA 32446
(850) 482-2223
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MEDIA ALERT
FLORIDA PANHANDLE FIRM TEAMS WITH ATTORNEY FROM TRAYVON MARTIN AND MICHAEL BROWN CASES TO GET ANSWERS IN PENSALCOLA PLANT EXPLOSION
Following the explosion of an International Paper plant in Pensacola, Florida, physical injuries and widespread concerns over chemically polluted air have a number of locals taking legal action, being represented by The Gilbert Law Firm, located in Marianna, Florida, in conjunction with Parks& Crump in Tallahassee, Florida.
Attorney LaDray Gilbert, Managing Attorney of The Gilbert Firm, released the following statements today on behalf of the affected persons:
- I would like to commend the prudence of the US EPA, the Florida EPA, the personnel of Escambia County, and the administration of the International Paper mill for their efforts throughout this process.
- Although investigations into the explosion are still ongoing, it must be emphasized that the seriousness of this situation cannot be minimized; the true extent of this impact on the employees and surrounding communities will not be realized in a matter of days, weeks, or months. The true extent of the damage could take years.
- We are willing and ready to work with those who feel that they may have been affected by the mill’s explosion, so if anyone has been, we strongly encourage contacting The Gilbert Firm.
- Again, we thank the various persons and entities for their time and energy into this matter. It is my goal to see that responsibility is properly taken and justice for those affected is equitably restored.
Local residents expressed the following statements after the explosion:
- “They’re trying to tell us it’s like baking soda, I don’t believe that in a million years. That stuff was in the air, and we’re smelling it and we’re breathing in this stuff… and you’re telling me it’s like baking soda?”
- “It [the community meeting] should have been done in a formal press conference style to allow residents to stand up and ask questions. Maybe I have questions I haven’t thought of or they have questions I haven’t thought of.”
- “How, if officials can’t quantify what chemicals nor how much of those chemicals were in the air, how they can say with any certainty that there are no continued health impacts?”
- “We’re trying to get numbers and information on what to do for [and] after this is over. I think we could’ve got a little bit more, I thought it was going to be like a press conference but its sort of like ‘come in and help yourself.’”
A hired toxicologist had the following to add:
- “One of the concerns the command team has is for residents that have had prolonged exposure to the black liquor debris.”
