ABC's of BALTIMORE LEAD PAINT DEFENSE: LEAD DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHARLES WARE

www.charlesjeromeware.com                  "Here to make a Difference."

Premier defense attorney Charles Jerome Ware is Maryland-based, nationally-recognized and respected, and ranked among the top lead paint and lead poisoning defense lawyers in the United States. For an initial courtesy consultation, contact defense attorney Charles Ware and his staff at (410) 720-6129. He can help you when you have been sued for lead paint or lead poisoning.

Let's be clear, according to the Baltimore Sun newspapers and some other sources, Baltimore ranks among the most hazardous cities in the United States for lead poisoning. It is reported that the majority of these cases occur in the Baltimore neighborhoods of Park Heights, Sandtown and Middle East. Pregnant women and children under the age of 6 years are reported to be particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning in these areas, especially if they live in pre-1978 built residential units (apartments and houses).  Many of these residences are known to contain at least some legacy (old) lead-based paint.

There are several Federal, Maryland State, and Local laws and regulations that residential rental property landlords should be cognizant of when renting in Baltimore. Just a few are as follows:

(1) The FEDERAL RESIDENTIAL LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD REDUCTION ACT OF 1992, commonly known as TITLE X.
Among other things, this law requires the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to jointly issues regulations to require disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards by persons selling or renting housing (apartments and houses) that were built before 1978. This law went into full effect with its affirmative disclosure mandates on December 6, 1996 for owners of pre-1978 properties.
(2) Landlords in Baltimore are required by law to perform "risk reduction" on pre-1950 rental properties. "Risk Reduction" is a series of treatments by workers accredited or certified by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) who are specifically trained to perform these repairs to minimize the risk of lead (particularly lead dust) exposure to people.
(3) In 1994, the Maryland General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of all residential rental dwelling units built before 1950 to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance for owners who comply. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply. The law exempts rental units owned or operated by Federal, Maryland State, or Local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law. This program is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).