CERRITOS – A jury has awarded the Los Cerritos Center $14.1 million to pay for the removal of asbestos-containing fireproofing material used in the construction of the shopping center.

Jurors in Los Angeles Superior courts found United States Mineral Products responsible for removal of the material after a one-month trial, according to attorney T. Michael Reed, representing the shopping center.

Reed said United States Mineral Products manufactured the asbestos-containing materials that were installed in the shopping center when it was built by the San Diego-based Hahn Corp. between 1970 and 1972.

The shopping center has been undergoing remodeling for the past five years. Reed said the asbestos has to be carefully removed and estimated the cleanup would cost $16.9 million.

The jury Thursday returned a verdict awarding the mall $14,148,692 after three days of deliberations.

H&H Cerritos, owner of the shopping center, was represented by Reed and Tom Penfield of Casey, Gerry, Casey, Westbrook, Reed and Schenk in San Diego. The case was heard by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Newell Barrett.

Asbestos-containing fireproofing materials were installed throughout the roof of the mall during the original construction, Reed said, adding that the materials were used on the beams in the roof, above the drop ceiling and were sprayed onto the steel beams to keep them from heating up and collapsing in a fire.

Reed said when remodeling began in 1987, it was determined that all 600,000 square feet of the materials would eventually have to be removed.

The cleanup has been ongoing since May 1987, Reed said, and to date nearly 250,000 square feet of the materials have been removed. The shopping center remains open during the process, and cleanup areas are sealed off before the material is taken out.

Reed said the air is monitored regularly by asbestos consultants, and removal of all material is expected to be completed by 1995.

Officials with United States Mineral Products could not be reached Friday for comment.