danielwAdministrator
(Moderator)
Fri Jul 29 2005 04:30 AM
Re: mold damage

There was a case about Mold Damage on Court TV the other night.
A couple had built a very large mansion in Texas. Duplicated the mansion "Tara" from Gone With the Wind.

Water pipe broke. Wet the floors, walls...a lot.
Peculiar mold began growing. The insurance company dragged it's feet, to say the least.
The Husband now has Alzheimer's Like-sign and symptoms-memory loss.
The baby has Respiratory Problems.
Mom had a brief illness, but recovered.

Family had to leave everything in the house and move on.
House left to the Mold.
Family sued Insurance Company for 6 million dollars.
Jury awarded $32 million dollars.

I'll try to find the link for the story. If a water pipe can creat this much damage I would think that a Storm could do likewise.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=The+Melinda+Ballard+Case+&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/forensicfiles/episodes/138.html
"Breaking the Mold" - The Melinda Ballard Case

A healthy three-year-old boy suddenly develops respiratory and neurological problems, and doctors can't explain why. Then his father begins to exhibit signs of Alzheimer's Disease. His mother becomes ill while traveling in an airplane; fortunately, the passenger seated next to her makes his living by removing toxic mold from buildings. When she tells him about her family's health problems, he suspects their home might be making them sick.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/default.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/mold_dampness_facts.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/moldfacts.htm

***Personal Note: Purchase a N95 respirator mask...at a minimum. Before doing any minor clean up. A better mask, would be any of the Half-Face respirators with filters and pre-filters. Home Improvement and Automotive Paint stores sell these for around $20-$25 dollars.
3M 7500 series, is the model I have used the most.
There are a couple of other brands.
They are well worth the money. One trip to the Doctor or Emergency Room for sinus or respiratory problems will costs well over $25.00. Even with a great Co-Pay Insurance.



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