A lawsuit initiated by Susan Blanton and Julie Coefield of Newport Beach, California, against their former landlord, states that the toxic mold in their apartment made them sick -- so sick that it caused fungal masses in Blanton and fungal bronchitis in Coefield, according to Santa Clarita toxicologist, Dr. Gary Ordog.
The lawsuit claims that the $1,250 apartment at Park West Apartments had eleven types of mold growing under the carpets and in the closet. Everything they owned must be destroyed after it is used as evidence in their trial. Mold is a common problem and especially prevalent in moist coastal environments.
San Fernando Valley attorney Alex Robertson, won the largest known settlement in a toxic mold case, $1.35 million, according to an article by Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times. He is now representing about a hundred plaintiffs in cases that stem from residing in low-income condos as well as luxury residences.
Unheard of just a few years ago, toxic mold is now a hot topic, the basis of a number of lawsuits throughout California, and the subject of a draft of a bill to set standards for mold, filed by State Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), chairwoman of the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
Although no link between toxic mold and pulmonary hemorrhaging and memory loss has been proven yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a fact sheet about receiving reports of the problem. A common reaction, similar to hay fever, has been established in response to mold and, according to a 1999 study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, most patients who have chronic sinus problems probably do so because of mold.
Other toxic mold lawsuits include Amgen for allegedly hiding toxic mold in a building where kidney medicine is made, a courthouse in Visalia where claimants contend the working conditions are hazardous, and mold in a Sacramento building, the subject of a $10 lawsuit.
Consumer advocate Kelly Hayes-Raitt, of the HomeSafe Campaign, notes that toxic mold can be found in low-income apartments and mansions. Faster building, less quality materials, air tightness, and a lack of waterproofing may be contributing to the toxic mold problem.
Pat Rioux
