package lib32z1 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

several packages have been reported as being in a very bad or inconsistnet state and installation failure keeps resulting.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: lib32z1 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-49.83-generic 3.13.11-ckt17
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-49-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.10
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Apr 29 17:40:07 2015
Dependencies:
 gcc-4.9-base 4.9.1-0ubuntu1
 libc6 2.19-0ubuntu6.6
 libc6-i386 2.19-0ubuntu6.6
 libgcc1 1:4.9.1-0ubuntu1
 multiarch-support 2.19-0ubuntu6.6
DuplicateSignature: package:lib32z1:1:1.2.8.dfsg-1ubuntu1:package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-04-20 (9 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
SourcePackage: zlib
Title: package lib32z1 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)