Kroger, Contractor to Pay $108,000 Over Asbestos Handling at Illinois Store

Settlement Ends Long-Running Dispute

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — A long-running legal dispute over asbestos handling at a Kroger grocery store in Taylorville has ended with a settlement requiring the company and a contractor to pay $108,000 in civil penalties.

Attorneys for the state announced that The Kroger Company and SSI Services LLC agreed to the payment to resolve claims tied to renovation work performed in 2022.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency first intervened in mid-2022 after inspectors found asbestos-containing materials left in public areas of the store during renovations. The findings raised health concerns and led to an agency order that effectively shut down the supermarket for months while cleanup took place.

Under the settlement announced in January 2026, Kroger and SSI must avoid future violations of environmental regulations. The case lasted four years as legal and regulatory proceedings moved through state and local offices.

Renovation Work Triggered Health Concerns

In 2022, the Taylorville store was undergoing renovations that included removing old floor tiles. Some of those materials contained asbestos.

When friable asbestos becomes airborne, fibers can be inhaled and lodge deep in lung tissue, which can lead to asbestosis and mesothelioma.

IEPA inspectors reported finding fragments of broken tile and adhesive in areas where customers walked while the store remained open. Regulators imposed a seal order, closing the store until it met health and safety standards.

The store closed in July 2022 and remained shut through late 2022 as contractors completed cleanup and containment work.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office later filed a lawsuit against Kroger and SSI Services. State lawyers alleged unsafe removal procedures and inadequate containment of asbestos during the renovation. In public statements, state officials said there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers.

Broader Context of Asbestos Litigation

The $108,000 penalty reflects state law provisions and the parties’ decision to resolve the case without trial. The agreement also carries expectations that the companies will strengthen oversight of environmental health practices during future renovation projects.

Kroger is one of the largest grocery chains in the country, operating hundreds of stores in multiple states. SSI Services is an Indiana-based contractor that worked on the Taylorville renovation.

Asbestos exposure remains a concern in renovation and demolition projects, particularly in buildings constructed before the 1980s that may contain asbestos in floor tiles or insulation.

The Taylorville case is modest compared with other asbestos-related settlements. In lawsuits involving serious illness, payouts often reach millions of dollars. On average, mesothelioma settlements range between $1 million and $2 million, while trial verdicts can range from $5 million to more than $20 million.

Some companies that faced extensive asbestos liability have established trust funds through bankruptcy proceedings to compensate claimants.

The Taylorville matter focused on regulatory compliance and public health. It underscores the ongoing risks tied to hazardous materials in older buildings and the legal consequences when safety standards are not met.