ORLANDO -- A woman's lawsuit claims contamination from missile projects in Orlando led to the death of her husband.
Karyn Vandestreek, as personal representative of the estate of Daniel Vandestreek, filed a complaint on August 10 Orange County Circuit Court against Lockheed Martin Corporation, Universal City Development Partners, LTD., Universal City Property Management III, LLC and HSW Engineering, Inc.
According to the complaint, In December of 1957, Lockheed Martin opened its Orlando Division plant located at 5600 Sand Lake Road, and production began on missile projects such as Pershing, Bullpup, Lacrosse, Sprint, and Hellfire.
Between 1958 and 1996, Copperhead, Hellfire, and Pershing missiles were produced and tested. Prior to April 29, 2020, the Defendants had engaged in remediation efforts to treat the contamination of the groundwater and soil caused by Lockheed's activities, the suit says.
By venting toxic gases directly into the air, at low heights, the defendants carelessly and recklessly unearthed high levels of toxic contamination present below ground surface, concentrated the contamination into potent and dangerous gases, and injected the contamination directly into the air supply for those persons in the surrounding area, specifically for Daniel Vandestreek, the suit says.
As a consequence, Defendants recklessly exposed Daniel Vandestreek to volatile organic compounds, causing him to inhale concentrated amounts of these volatile organic compounds, the suit says, leading to his death.
Karyn Vandestreek is represented by Andrew F. Knopf.
Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County, Florid filing number 132354867