Illegal pesticide use trial set to begin

Trial is set to begin today for Alabama-based Bio-Tech Management and its owner, Steven Murray. They were named last year in a 52-count federal indictment alleging that the company’s technicians did not apply the pesticide Termidor according to manufacturer’s instructions in more than five dozen nursing homes.  In addition, they have been charged with conspiracy, false statements, mail fraud and falsification of records.

The indictments states that Termidor was sprayed indoors twice a year, disregarding the manufacturer’s label instructions. When the Georgia Department of Agriculture began to question the misuse of Termidor and other pesticides by Bio-Tech, employees allegedly were instructed to alter the records, according to a government release.

Murray is also accused of making false statements to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To protect the public, EPA regulations required that all pesticides are registered, properly labeled and applied according to the products’ labels.

Nursing homes named in the indictment are located in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.