Source: http://etvscandal.com/
Timestamp: 2015-07-02 18:14:29
Document Index: 257223608

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art2']

ETV Scandal Homepage
The simple story: For 40 years SCETV owned a building that was certified as being filled with asbestos. They continued to occupy and use it despite warnings, but kept the fact secret from most who worked there and from the parents of minors who attended kindergarten/daycare inside the facility. Because the facility qualified as a school it fell under the strictest federal asbestos AHERA regulations. SCETV attempted to make a fraudulent sale of the contaminated property and unload the cleanup costs on someone else other than themselves or the state who were legally responsible. An unsuspecting buyer fell in the trap, but fought back immediately following the sale and discovery of the fraud. During that fight it was discovered that 1000's of men, women, and children had been exposed. No other building on record has as much asbestos as this one, and tragically, it was the most deadly type known as amosite. After a brief search back in 2001, victims were found who were very sick, and others some were found as already dead (as explained by family members). Many more will absolutely follow simply because the latency period for asbestos can be from 10 to 30 years with smoking being a major catalyst factor. Over time, more and more people will surface who can now easily get a doctor certified asbestosis prognosis. Neither the government of South Carolina nor the press want to publically discuss this story, but that doesn't help the victims who can not be cured of this dreadful damage. Anyone who attempts to deal with this matter is threatened and attacked every way imaginable. Victims and families of victims are often too afraid to come forward and for really good reason. Many state that the only way they will come out is if a trusted legal person, firm, or system comes in to fight the battle. That is a tall order in the South Carolina legal community where truth, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law are rare. * 1000s of people were seriously exposed....it is a physical impossibility for them not to have been. Those who have died (first wave) would have very likely been smokers and there would have been no autopsy performed (expensive - $5000 in SC) as no one checks for other lung damage factors if a person is a smoker.
* There are several classes of victims. One to take particular notice of are the documented state prisoners that were forced to remove asbestos from State facilities without any protection or even dust masks.
* Several asbestos experts who actually inspected the SCETV site have expressed a desire to sue both the State and Browning for their own exposure that they claim should have never happened.. **********************************************************************************************
Unfortunately, the SCETV asbestos scandal is very complicated. About the only way to get an idea of the problem is to follow the actions of the SCETV Facilities Manager, Bill Hopkins.
Though complex, there are numerous documents from the late 1980’s and early 1990’s that show that Bill Hopkins was very savvy when it came to understanding asbestos related issues.
In 1993, SCETV decided it needed to move out of the production facility they had occupied since 1960. (Ref. 1) article It was originally a grocery/drug store that was converted into a television studio. Sound and (Ref. 2) fire were common studio problems (lights and other high electricity loads). During the 1960’s, asbestos was the cheapest and best choice for fire and sound proofing and was used extensively in the ceilings, walls, and floors of the SCETV facility. You will likely not find a facility left in existence that had/or has that much asbestos in it nor of such a dangerous type as amosite. As as reference, actor Steve McQueen died of asbestosis. He claimed it was from either a single exposure while on a ship in the Marine Corps or while on movie sets just like ETVs.
Bill Hopkins ordered an asbestos report in 1993. Bill Hopkins received the asbestos report ((Ref. 3) Part 1, (Ref. 4) Part 2, (Ref. 5) Part 3) that indicated asbestos was throughout the facility and that SCETV was required by law to manage it carefully. Later, through a subpoena issued and delivered by Epps, the following pictures (Ref. 6) pics1, (ref. 7) pics2, (Ref. 8) pics 3, (Ref. 9) pics4) were obtained from the Davis & Floyd file. These are pictures of actual positively tested asbestos containing materials that were found damaged, lying on the floor, and being stepped on in a work area inside SCETV facility. These were the only pictures Epps could get out of the hundreds that were supposedly taken. When Epps arrived with the subpoena to look at all the evidence gathered by the environmental firm that did the survey, nearly all of the information had been placed in boxes the day before and confiscated by the state and taken away in State trucks. Almost immediately after receiving the report, the management of SCETV moved out the facility, leaving technicians and lower staff to continue to work in the facility over another 5 years until the facility was closed and placed on the market. (Ref. 10) article In 1999, Randall Browning purchased the facility for $650,000. Browning was going to create Capital Pictures, South Carolina’s first complete movie studio. His plans included an in-house school to train movie students.
One week after purchasing the facility a young engineer, (working for a firm hired by Browning) while doing planning, recognized the damaged asbestos and reported it. The problem was quickly elevated and DHEC alerted. The facility was immediately vacated and sealed per state and federal regulations. Randall Browning was stunned. He confronted SCETV and demanded answers. SCETV then provided Browning with a copy of the 1993 asbestos report cited above. Browning demanded his money back and that SCETV take back the facility. They refused and told Browning that, “He should have been more careful when dealing with ETV.”
Randall Browning then ordered his own asbestos report ((Ref. 11) Part 1, (Ref. 12) Part 2, (Ref. 13) Part 3). This second report was more thorough. It said asbestos was everywhere and that the facility had to be gutted. Everything….had to be removed under sealed conditions and disposed of per EPA/DHEC regulations. This is the exact same facility occupied by SCETV personel for 40 years, then 1 week after it was sold to a private citizen it was only then deemed an environmental hazard. This is a tragic statement about the incompetence and corruption of State regulators.
The facility was gutted and rendered unusable. (Ref. 14)pic1, (Ref. 15) pic2, (Ref. 16) pic3, (Ref. 17) pic4) Browning not only lost his investment in the property, but the business stalled for years and then failed. The cleanup costs are hard to know, but Browning claimed a $2 million direct loss and there are clearly many other indirect losses to him. (Ref. 18) Governor Mark Sanford responds to letter after being elected and promises an investigation by DHEC. DHEC investigates and responds with a letter: (Ref. 19) DHEC Response Page 1 - (Ref. 20) Page2 Note the final paragraph where DHEC concludes that SCETV did not follow regulation but it was, in their opinion, too late to take action. This is, of course, absurd and another blatant corruption finger pointed in their direction. State Attorney General Henry McMaster also refused to take action as he considered it a civil and not a criminal matter. (Ref. 21) Mc Master letter Prior to the deal, Browning was a documented millionaire having made most of his money in real estate. He stated over and over that he understood asbestos regulations and knew SCETV had a clear AHERA responsibility to tell him if it was in the facility. They obviously didn't, and they obviously knew, and indeed went to great effort to cover it up. Browning's entire financial world collapsed because of this fraudulent deal. In October of 2000, Browning hired David Epps as an investigator and engineering consultant to manage and resolve the matter with SCETV.
David Epps worked for one year on the case under the supervision of several attorneys. (Ref. 22) http://www.turnipseed.net/Browning.htm Epps was also responsible for finding, selecting, and drafting an agreement with Attorneys Turnipseed and Associates and John Nichols of Bluestein and Nichols.. Epps wrote the complaint ((Ref. 23) Part 1 & (Ref. 23) Part2) filed by the lawyers. During this time Epps uncovered a complex but clear collection of crimes, abuse, and cover-up by SCETV. One impressive document was an inter-organization memo that announced mandatory safety training (that included asbestos) to all employees except those still having to work in the Millwood facility. Epps soon came under attack as he found more and more evidence of wrongdoing by many, many people in both SCETV and other state government agencies.
After paying for 3 months, Browning asked Epps for an extension on payment which was granted.
Epps submits dozens of FIOAs to both State and federal agencies. He goes to Atlanta and speaks to EPA Region 4 engineers who admit asbestos was a huge problem in SC schools but the state's good-ol' boy system of enforcement wasn't going to allow federal intervention. (Ref. 24) letter Epps was served with an order to appear before Judge James Barber and was ordered that he could no longer talk to state employees or submit FOIA requests. Judge's Order (Ref. 25) Protective Order page 1 - (Ref. 26) page 2
Browning refused to pay Epps any further and then disappeared. Browning's organization immediately fell apart. (Ref. 27) His employee calls and leaves message. Epps submits final bill and provides no further work.
Epps comes under attack professionally, personally, and financially.
Browning’s attorneys file to be released from the case.
One of Browning’s attorneys refiles the lawsuit under a new case number. Epps tries to move on, and is offered a job with the US Justice Department by the US Attorney General to South Carolina, but has to decline because of the SCETV conflict of interest. Epps goes to work for government contractor. After confronting the SC Superintendent of Education on WTMA, her attorney contacts Epps and indicates that on information and belief, that the case was rumored to have been settled. She would not provide any further information.
(Ref. 28) In violation of the judge’s order, Epps files a FOIA and is provided with a copy of the (ref. 29) settlement agreement which includes a Confidentiality Provision.
Though indicating a $60,000 settlement on a fraud claim of $2,650,000, newspaper article says that Browning sold the old SCETV facility property for an undisclosed amount to developers and is involved in a many real estate deals which yield him sizable “profits”. (Ref. 30) article The SCETV site remains undeveloped.
Certified victims are coming forward but are terrified because they have been threatened or have observed other victims threatened, fired, shunned, and attacked financially. These are those exposed to the asbestos and have serious health issues. Here are a few: (Ref. 31) E-mail 1 - (Ref. 32) Email 2 - (Ref. 33) Phone Call 2 (repeated from above as they are considered victims) Next time you see a SC State employee, official, or politician, ask them, "WHY?"
"I am a former ETV employee who is disabled because of long term exposure. I spent many hours in the "old" ETV facility on Millwood Avenue in Columbia." Former or current SCETV employee
"I have just heard from one of my coworkers who had an office beside mine (across from the conference room) has been told he has asbestos (calcified nodules) in his lungs."
Former or current SCETV employee
I am a retired staff member of SCETV. Starting in 19XX and retiring in XXXX.
I worked in and around the Millwood studios for most all of those years and my office was housed in that building for many of those years. I also worked in and around the ceilings in both Conference Room A and the productions studios as well as other parts of that building. I have tried to keep up with your information and am always eager to hear any new tidbits. I voiced a health concern over the information as it came out and was made to feel that I was not to be concerned. I was then, am now and will still be."
"As far as ETV you probably will find alot. Alot you will never find. Because I believe that ETV is much more than Educational Television. Think about it! Could be much deeper than you would ever imagine! Keep digging and keep me informed! "I would like to know more about ETV and Inez Tenenbaum!"
"I would be sitting at my desk and instantly my nose would start bleeding without cause. Sometimes it became a gusher. Along with myself, the rest of the staff suffered from headaches, coughing, sneezing and other symptoms. One lady suffered extreme headaches often and eventually retired. I heard from her later that she had suffered a stroke due to some sort of lesions forming in her brain over a period of years."
"My duties required that I regularly work in areas such as above suspended ceiling, in walls, and under floors with no precautions given or mention of asbestos contamination. I understand that information has surfaced that indicates in 1993 SCETV "became aware" of the problem and took no action and possibly falsified documents to OSHA regarding the issue."
"I am disabled. Myself and my family have suffered greatly over this situation. I am so surprised that few state employees come forth with their concerns. They are being intimidated as you stated in your book. I support your efforts in getting something done about these environmental dangers in the workplace. It is widespread throughout the many state facilities."
"I am not in the loop that knew, nor know now, but understand from reliable sources that you were so very close to exposing wrong doings by Bill Hopkins, former Facilities Manager for SCETV."
"You are so correct in saying that this asbestos problem is huge in SC public and government buildings. I constantly see the televison commericals for attorneys representing asbestos victims that feel they have been exposed."
"While recently at the emergency room from an auto wreck I had a XRAY and was also told I had a calcification in my lung. I am now following up with my Dr. in regard to same."
"They have (SCETV management) threatened us about talking."
"They (other victims) would talk about it to me but would not publicly come forth. Job security and intimidation was the reason. Many had multiple years of service and did not want to lose their job, as I eventually did. It is sad to say that all communications with former friends and employees have been severed. No one will call me on the phone, e-mail or otherwise try to check on me."
"Why can't this be stopped? How can I help you?"
Inez Tenenbaum's role in the crimes and corruption What do these two SC icons have in common?
Fraud * Corruption * Conspiracy Environmental Crime * Deception * Cover-up Accounting Fraud Tenenbaum Lies About Willingness to Address Scandal
What is she hiding? Plenty! See for yourself....take a tour of the old ETV facility.
Start Here - 4 short videos that tell what happened
What is asebstos? How SCETV knowingly poisoned workers
How SCETV knowingly poisoned children How SCETV ripped off a SC citizen
If you don't see the SC State
Listen to David Epps on RockyD - 6/16/09
1999-2014 - Over 15 years since the crime began, and both ETV employees and non-employees are still being threatened and denied justice.
Download a free copy of the book !!!