Coalition spending $1 million on lead testing in Cleveland amid declining rates (News 5 CLE)

What You Should Know Before Doing Home Renovations

This is the season to start remodeling, but before you begin, make sure you are not exposing your family to lead.

Cleveland has received much attention about the high lead poisoning rates found throughout Cuyahoga County. Any home built before 1978 has an increased risk of containing lead.

The Environmental Protection Agency states, “Contractors doing work for compensation in homes or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified and follow certain work practices.”

We strongly advise anyone considering a renovation to hire only experienced, competent contractors who have the knowledge and resources to protect your family from all lead exposure.

If you are renting a home and have concerns that renovations are not being done safely and that your family is at risk for lead poisoning, we advise you to contact us immediately.

Even a small amount of lead can have life-altering consequences, especially for young children. We have dedicated our work to protecting families from this terrible poison and urge you to contact us today.

Will Cleveland Rentals Be “Lead Safe” by 2021?

As reported by the Plain Dealer, each day four children in Cleveland are diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Children’s exposure to lead has reached new heights and an advocacy group is working to propose a ballot that would force older Cleveland homes to be completely lead free.

As stated in the article, “A “lead safe” ordinance created by members of CLASH — Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing — would require owners of most Cleveland rental homes to prove their properties are lead-safe by 2021 or face fines.”

This is just one of many efforts being made to protect our youngest Cleveland residents from life-altering health and mental issues caused from lead poisoning.

If your child has lead poisoning, or if you fear you are living in a property with lead, contact us immediately. We have dedicated years to helping families and are ready to fight for you.

Lead Poisoning Rampant in Cleveland Kindergartners

Cleveland has become well known for its dangerous lead exposure, but now the effects are being seen in its schools.

The Plain Dealer reported a recent study which looked at 10,397 kindergartners enrolled from 2014 through 2017.

The results were devastating with, “a staggering 93.5 percent of them had some exposure to lead, which even at low levels can damage a developing brain and cause educational, behavioral and health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Exposure to lead causes has life-long, irreversible damage especially to a young child.

The article stated, “schools in Glenville, St. Clair-Superior, Buckeye-Woodhill, Broadway-Slavic Village and Stockyards had the greatest number of students exposed to the toxin, which is often found in older homes where paint has deteriorated.”

If you live in these areas or suspect your child may have been exposed to lead, we have dedicated our practice to helping families with lead poisoning.

Let us fight for you and your child and contact us today.

Ohio Children at Four Times the National Average for Lead Poisoning

About 12 percent of city children under age 6 who were screened for lead in 2016 and 2017 had a level of the toxin in their blood that required action, according to new data released by the Ohio Department of Health.

This staggering figure makes Ohio one of the largest in the country for lead exposure. Thankfully, Ohio law requires local health departments to assist families facing lead poisoning.

If your child has tested above a threshold of 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead, you are entitled to help.

We have proudly dedicated our practice to protecting children and families battling lead poison.

Make sure your family receives the protection they need and contact us today.

Cleveland Residents Face Eviction

The lead poisoning crisis in Cuyahoga County continues with many families facing eviction even after repairs.

As reported in the Plain Dealer, many families are being mistakenly forced out of their homes.

It is the city's job to protect citizens from the dangers of lead, and it appears a new host of issues has arisen as homes that have been eradicated from all threats of lead continue to remain on the city's "lead hazard" list.

As stated in the article, "The city informed Thelma Taylor, a 79-year-old, great grandmother of three, that she had 14 days to pack up and leave her house on Cleveland's East Side. The same city government that had helped her make her property safe was telling her she hadn't done the necessary repairs."  

This is just one of dozens of cases where proper repairs were made and yet these tenants are still facing eviction for lead.

If you are facing unlawful eviction, or if you believe your home is at risk for lead, contact us immediately. 

Children in Cuyahoga County Are At Greater Risk for Lead Poisoning

It may surprise you how many suburbs within Cuyahoga County have been labeled high risk by the Ohio Department of Health. 

There is no safe level of lead and children under age six face the greatest threat from lead exposure. If your family is living in a home built before 1978, then your child is legally required to have access to blood testing for lead.

Make sure your child gets the proper medical care and required testing for lead poisoning. Speak to your pediatrician about the process to check any lead levels in your child.

All blood levels made by a venous draw that are 5ug/dL or greater require assistance from the Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

Don't allow your child to struggle with lead poisoning alone. If you and your family are at risk, let us provide the help you need and contact us today. 

Home Renovations May Cause Lead Exposure

Approximately 24 million housing units have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust.

Before doing any remodeling to your home, it is imperative you take proper steps to avoid lead exposure to you and your family.

According to the CDC, "approximately 24 million housing units have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust."

If your home was built before 1978, and you have cracked or peeling paint, especially around windowsills, your children could be at risk. 

The EPA found that, "Common renovation, repair, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint (like sanding, cutting, replacing windows, and more) can create hazardous lead dust and chips which can be harmful to adults and children."

This lead dust is often invisible and if ingested by a young child, the long-term damage is often dramatic and irreparable. 

Federal law requires contractors performing renovation that disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 where children under the age of six reside, must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

If you fall under any of these categories, we urge you to contact us immediately to protect your family from lead poisoning.

Effects of Lead Poisoning Last a Lifetime

The dangers of lead exposure in children are finally receiving much-needed attention, but the long-term damage is often devastating and irreversible.

As reported in The Washington Post, “A child who was poisoned with lead is seven times more likely to drop out of school and six times more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system,” said Ruth Ann Norton, the executive director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. 

It is a sad reality that despite awareness, significant steps still need to be made to completely eliminate lead exposure. If you are living in a home built before 1978, or if you suspect your children were exposed to chipping paint and are now facing serious mental and psychological problems, contact us.

We have dedicated years to helping families faced with the dangers of lead and have secured settlements to help them and their children. 

Will Cleveland Children be Protected from Lead Exposure?

As reported in the Plain Dealer, more than 500,000 older homes in Cuyahoga County are potential lead hazards. 

Without significant funding Cuyahoga County will be unable to eradicate lead from these homes that pose the greatest threat to children.

The Plain Dealer found that, "in some Cleveland neighborhoods, as many as 1 in 3 children are exposed to lead as their young brains are developing, before they ever start school."

With a new "Pay for Success" model, the city aims to work much quicker in helping families who face lead poisoning risks on a daily basis.

The Plain Dealer states this new program is still in the planning phase, but would "concentrate the work in Cleveland's Glenville, St. Clair-Superior and Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhoods, as well as in East Cleveland, as these areas have consistently had some of the highest rates of lead poisoning among children who are screened for the toxin."

We have dedicated our practice to protecting children and families and are ready to fight for your legal rights.

If you live in Cleveland or East Cleveland, or believe your home contains lead, contact us immediately. 

Lead Poisoning Prevalent in Cleveland

Lead poisoning still poses a real threat to children living in Cleveland.

Almost 90% of homes in the Cleveland area were built before 1978, making the risk of exposure to lead extremely high.

Children are the most at-risk and as reported in The New York Times, Dr. Dorr Dearborn, a retired pediatrician and chairman emeritus of Case Western Reserve University’s department of environmental health sciences, said widely elevated lead levels “give these children an abnormal base to which all the other determinants of school failure and aggressive behavior are added.”

The Plain Dealer stated, "In addition to problems preventing lead exposure, our region has also been very bad at finding children who have already been poisoned by lead. Only about a third of children who are at risk for lead poisoning in the Cleveland area are screened for the toxin, according to an analysis completed by Ohio State University's Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity."

When it comes to this toxic threat, don't take any chances. We have dedicated our practice to representing families facing lead poisoning and helping them gain the financial support and medical assistance they need. Don't wait another day.

Protect your children from lead poisoning and contact us today. 

Signs Your Home Contains Lead

Our goal is to protect every family and child from lead poisoning.

The greatest risk for lead exposure is found in homes built before 1978. If your home was built before 1940, there is an 87% chance lead exists in your house.

Between 1940-1959, 69% of homes contain lead, and from 1960-1977, 24% of homes pose a threat for lead poisoning. 

The EPA has identified many areas lead can be found in a home, including windowsills, fences, even pipes and playgrounds. Don't let your children fall victim to lead poisoning.

If you suspect your family is at risk for lead poisoning, contact us today. 

New Efforts Seek to Eradicate Lead in Cleveland Homes

The Plain Dealer has exposed countless errors and statistics of citizens going unassisted while living in homes with lead.

A recent article cites Improvements to Cleveland's lead problem and reported that, "the city now has a rental inspection program, launched this summer. After studying approaches used by other cities, Mayor Frank Jackson's administration opted to start interior and exterior inspections of all registered rentals for a list of health and safety issues, including peeling paint in older homes. To do so, it dedicated millions from a voter-approved tax increase to start hiring 33 new employees in the Building & Housing department -- including 13 to staff the rental property inspection unit."

While still in its infancy, steps taken by city officials show long overdue attention and resources are now being directed to prevent more families and children from being exposed to toxic amounts of lead.

If you live in a house built before 1978, the owner is legally required to maintain a safe, lead-free home for you and your family.

Contact us today to ensure no one in your home is at risk for lead poisoning. 

New Law Would Protect Families from Lead Exposure

City Councilman Jeff Johnson is pushing for new legislation to help eradicate the lead found in Cleveland homes.

As part of the Lead Safe Cleveland Initiative, the Plain Dealer reported that, "Johnson, along with Cleveland Lead Safe Network would first tackle lead paint hazards in homes and then go after reducing the risk from the toxin in soil and water."

Countless homes in the Cleveland area were built before 1978, and are at a greater risk of having lead paint that causes permanent and life threatening damage to young children.

If you suspect your home has not undergone a lead inspection, or fear your family has been exposed to lead, contact us today. 

New Budget Amendment Aims to Protect Landlords in Lead Poisoned Homes

This would be a huge setback for Cleveland, as many families are living in hazardous conditions where lead poses a real and dangerous threat. 

Lead poisoning is a real risk for children living in Cleveland, many of whom still remain unprotected. 

The Plain Dealer recently reported, "this proposal restricts the ability of municipalities, like Toledo, to require higher health and safety standards than the state's current baseline."

This would seek to protect landlords and not the tenants and families who are exposed to lead and whose lives are at risk. Lead poisoning is a real risk for children living in Cleveland, many of whom still remain unprotected. 

Studies found, "in 2015, 3 percent of tested children in Ohio were found to be poisoned by lead. Many of these children reside in certain census tracts -- like Cleveland's East Side -- where up to 25 percent of tested children suffered from lead poisoning."

It remains the goal of our office to ensure children are protected from exposure to lead, and we work tirelessly to hold landlords and property owners responsible. If you fear your family is at risk, contact us today.

New Study Finds Links Between Lead Poisoning and Crime

The Plain Dealer recently reported that more homicides, aggravated assaults and weapons-related crimes are found in areas with a high number of vacant homes, and have a higher number of children suffering from lead poisoning.

This is the first data-driven study on ties between vacant and distressed housing, crime and lead exposure, and was released by researchers at Case Western Reserve University's Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development.

As stated by The Plain Dealer, "Hotspots where the three problems are highly concentrated include much of Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood and parts of Buckeye-Shaker, Mount Pleasant, Union Miles and Slavic Village on the East and South sides as well as portions of the Clark-Fulton and Stockyards areas on the near West Side."

If you are living in these areas and believe your home is at risk for lead exposure, you have the right to protect your children and family from lead poisoning.

Known as leaders in the fight against lead poisoning, we are available 24/7 to help you. Contact us today.

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Cleveland Has Highest Lead Poisoning Levels in Ohio

Our children and residents of Cleveland are at a dangerous risk for lead poisoning.

The Plain Dealer has continued its investigations into the prominent threat that lead poisoning has on families living in Cleveland and found:

• Only 38 percent of the 6,688 lead poisoning referrals statewide were investigated from 2011 to 2015;
• State investigators were able to reach families and complete investigations for only about half the referrals it is was responsible for since 2011;
• When hazardous levels of lead were found, they were cleaned up or the public warned of the danger with placards 57 percent of the time from 2011 to 2014.

The article reported that since 2011, thousands of children's lead poisoning cases were left without investigation, and at least 1,000 homes across the state remained known hazards.

You and your family could be at risk for lead poisoning. It is our mission to protect the rights of families living in these dangerous conditions.

We are prepared to represent you and have the experience you need to ensure your children are no longer exposed to lead. Contact us today.

Leaders in the Fight Against Lead Poisoning

Our office is dedicated to helping victims of lead poisoning obtain the help and financial resources they need.

Many times landlords are resistant to making repairs to older homes, and tenants are left thinking they are stuck in unlivable conditions. We are poised as experts to prevent families from staying in any condition that puts them at risk for lead exposure.

We are ready to use our knowledge and countless legal wins to give you and your children the legal help you need to protect yourselves. 

Let us represent you and contact us for a free consultation. We will facilitate any assistance with travel and pay for your parking. 

Lead Poisoning in Cleveland Home Takes a Life

Demetrius Wade is another victim whose young life was taken by lead poisoning.

As reported by Freshwater Cleveland, Wade's family lived in Lakeview Terrace, part of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. Wade and other children in the complex tested positive for high levels of lead. 

The article states, "In Ohio, the law requires all children less than six years old be tested for elevated blood-lead levels if they meet any of the following criteria: the child lives in or regularly visits a property built before 1978, the child is on Medicaid or the child lives in an area in which at least 12 percent of the children under six are predicted to have elevated blood-lead levels."

Exposure to high levels of lead is very common in the city of Cleveland, as risks significantly increase in homes that were built before 1978 and 90% of houses in Cleveland meet this criteria. 

The city of Cleveland continues to find extremely high levels of lead in these homes, and in 2014 "Cuyahoga County had the highest percentage of children with elevated blood-lead levels in Ohio."  

If you believe your child is at risk, or are living in a home built before 1978, you have the right to have your child tested for lead exposure. Let us help you fight for these rights and contact us today. 

NY Times Finds Poorer Tenants are Victims of Lead Exposure

A recent NY Times article found that 535,000 children a year test positive for lead poisoning. 

Many of these victims are preyed upon by investment companies seeking to rent to lower income families, and often the houses are found to have unsuitable living conditions. 

The article stated, "Poor families that buy or rent one of these rundown homes often find themselves with another problem: Because they do not technically own their house, they are ineligible for any state or local grants to help defray the cost of removing lead paint."

Our office has dedicated years to fighting negligent landlords to protect families victimized by lead exposure.

We have the expertise to help you. Contact us today.