[FONT=Verdana]A contractor failed to properly remove asbestos from buildings owned by Columbia International University, says a federal lawsuit filed last week.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The university is suing contractor Environmental Engineering Company Inc.; its parent company, RPR & Associates Inc.; and paint contractor Hyde Drywall & Paint Inc., seeking an unspecified amount of money.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The local contractors were hired in the late 1980s to remove asbestos and do some renovations on at least six university buildings, said David Ratchford, a project manager for the university.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]In some cases, he said,