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Four Correction Officers who work at Rikers Island are said to be suing New York City. The four correction officers claim that they have contracted cancer from working in the corrections facility and around dangerous chemicals.
The four officers believe that toxic chemicals, supposedly buried at the site of the Rikers Island Correctional Facility, are the cause for their recent cancer diagnoses. The Rikers Island Correctional Facility is supposedly built mainly on an old landfill.
The four officers claim that the city knew that they were being exposed to the toxic cancer causing chemicals and never disclosed that information, states a report. A lawyer for the city says that there is no support for the allegations.
The lawyer also states that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found no evidence of elevated cancer rates among the correction officers who have worked at Rikers Island in Manhattan, stated a source. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene investigated the case in 2009. It was not stated if an investigation into the supposed toxic chemicals buried on site had been launched at the time of this publication, or whether a follow up investigation would take place.
The four men are not convinced. They continue to press on with their lawsuit for injury against New York City. The widow of a fifth man is expected to join the lawsuit, claims a friend. Four Rikers Island correction officers as well as officers in Long Isand are suing the city, claiming they contracted cancer from working at the jail. The officers believe they got sick from toxic chemicals buried at the site, which is mostly built on landfill. The officers claim the city knew they were being exposed to cancer causing chemicals. The widow of a fifth employee is also joining in the lawsuit.
A lawyer for the city says, “There is no support for these allegations. An investigation by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2009 found no evidence of elevated cancer rates among correction officers who work or have worked at Rikers Island.”
If you or a family member has experienced illness after working in a questionable environment, a New York Injury Attorney may be able to help. Call and schedule an appointment to day with a New York Injury Attorney to review your case.