I was in the drycleaning industry for over 40 years, first as an owner, and from 1969 to 1998 with The Neighborhood Cleaners Association, International. (NCA-I.). In addition to my administrative duties as associate director, I was in charge of environmental affairs and equipment related activities. I helped create and managed the first hazardous waste pickup and recycling program for drycleaners.
I advised drycleaners how to comply with government regulations of all types, helped create an OSHA Hazard Communication program for the use of drycleaners and gave guidance to drycleaners to drycleaners who were accused of environmental regulation infractions such as land, water and air pollution. I wrote articles and gave seminars on these topics and am recognized nationally as an industry expert. I also wrote the booklet called, Keep it Clean, Guidelines To Reduce Or Eliminate Perchloroethylene Releases to The Air, Soil And Water.
I am also recognized as an expert on the functioning of drycleaning related equipment of all types and wrote articles and gave seminars on this subject as well. While in the employ of NCA-I, I trained employees of numerous environmental agencies as to the functions of the equipment used in perchloroethylene drycleaning. Included were the Westchester and Nassau County Health Departments in New York State and Dade Environmental Regulatory Management (DERM) in Miami, Florida.
I was on the Advisory Committee for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) during the construction of their air emission regulations for perc drycleaners. I served on the Negotiated Rule Making (Neg-Reg) committee that created the current drycleaning air regulations for New York State. I also reviewed the USEPA perc drycleaning operation manual as well as writing much of the text. EPA retained me as a consultant for this project. I also reviewed many other documents and gave technical advice to EPA contractors.
I have frequently been retained as a consultant by those inside and outside of the drycleaning industry who wanted expert advice and/or testimony about the above or other drycleaning related topics. Just before my retirement at the end of 1997 from NCA-I, I gave special training to two groups of defense attorneys in the Pilgrim lawsuit in Texas as to the functions of the equipment used in perchloroethylene drycleaning
I have been frequently retained by attorneys as a consulting forensic expert in the field of drycleaning. My knowledge acquired over the years as to how toxic substances were handled by drycleaners has proved invaluable in determining how soil and water contamination may have been caused.
For references regarding my abilities and how they can be used to aid you in litigation and defense, you can contact:
Richard Berger
Schiffman, Berger, Abraham, Kaufman & Ritter, P.C.
Three University Plaza
Hackensack, NJ 07602-2600
Brian E. Bragg
Budd Larner Gross Rosenbaum Greenberg & Sade
150 John F, Kennedy Parkway CN 1000
Short Hills, NJ 07078-0999
Douglas Mahaffey
Mahaffey & Associates
18881 Von Carman Ave. Suite 1200
Irvine, CA 92612
Alan K.Stazer
Cummins & White, LLP
865 South Figueroa Street, 24th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017-2566
If you would like further information, please call, fax or Email.
Jerry Levine
GLDC Services, Inc.
3822 SW Whispering Sound Drive
Palm City, FL 34990
561-283-6747
Fax-561-283-7907