Jimmy had the oldest style machines called "transfer machines" or "first generation". This type of machine had been outlawed by the new regulation because of the large amounts of air pollution and hazardous waste it creates. The way the machines work is that there are two machines- a washer and a dryer- the clothes go in the washer, where they are washed with perc and detergent(Perc is a carcinogenic and hazardous chemical). When the wash cycle is over, the clothes that are soaked with perc have to be taken out of the washer by hand, and the perc vapors fill the air. The clothes are put into the dryer, which works just like a regular clothes dryer with hot air, causing the liquid perc to evaporate.

So, Jimmy had a violaton just by having the old machines. But he also did not take care of them- the round door of the washer had a leaky gasket and when the clothes were being cleaned, the liquid perc would drip out of the door- Jimmy put a large mayonaise jar under the door to catch the drips(another violation)

Next door there was a delicatessen. We asked the health department to test the air there and it turned up with too much perc- ten times too much(the perc can absorb into the food also, besides being bad for people to breathe)

So, we went to federal court to try to get a court order to make Jimmy clean the place up and stop using the polluting machines. Our witnesses did a good job testifying. Jimmy got up on the stand and said "I've been in the dry cleaning business for over 40 years and it never hurt me"....

Well the judge said Jimmy had 30 days to disconnect his machines, and 60 days to remove the machines and the drums.

After 30 days, I went to the store with an Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO= NYSDEC police) to see if Jimmy had disconnected the machines(he could have been arrested if he didn't do it)

Jimmy had not disconnected the machines, but he called the electrician and had them disconnected while we were there.

After 60 days, I went back. The store was closed. I could see that the machines were still there. There was a sign in the window- it said the store was closed and you could call Jimmy's daughter to pick up your clothes. I went next door to the Deli and asked where was Jimmy? They said "Jimmy's dead."

Later I called Jimmy's daughter - I asked her what happened- she said Jimmy had not been feeling well for a long time, perhaps 6 months, he went to the doctors, went to the hospital- the doctor said he had problems with his heart and his kidneys and his liver. I asked her if this was related to the dry cleaning and she said that the doctor said it was.

I told Katy our hazardous waste inspector that Jimmy had died. Katy cried- even though Jimmy had lots of violations, she liked him as a person.