Award Bumped to More Than $1 Million in Toxic Mold Case
Two families who rented a La Mesa, San Diego duplex and later sued the landlord saying they were exposed to toxic mold are entitled to more than $1 million in damages, a judge has determined. The families contended that improper drainage on the property on Cypress Drive caused mold to grow inside the external walls, […]
Tougher Penalties For Lead Based Paint Suggested
Owners of buildings in Illinois with lead-based paint could face stiffer penalties for noncompliance with the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. State lawmakers are currently considering the recommendations of a state-appointed advisory council’s recommendations. On Friday, the final proposal outlining fees and fines that cold help eliminate lead poisoning in Illinois will be consolidated by the […]
Church Learns Mold Could Be Anywhere
Members of Baptist Church are finally looking forward to consturction of a new church building after more than five years of bouncing from one place to the next. In mid-August 2000, the more than 1,500-member congregation was forced to vacate its church building after large quantities of mold were found in the walls, a result […]
$3 Million Bad-Faith Verdict; Jury: Auto Insurer ‘Willful, Wanton’ In Refusing Claim
A Boulder, Colorado jury has awarded a former University of Colorado math professor nearly $3 million in what is believed to be the state’s largest bad-faith verdict against an auto insurer over lost wages. Dominic Peressini, 39, had asked for 85 percent of his actual lost wages, or $125,000, during a year-long sabbatical following a […]
Lead Level of Chocolate Studied
A study published in this month’s Environmental Health Perspectives suggests lead levels in imported chocolate are not due to contaminants in leaded gasoline. Until the study, conventional thinking tied lead levels in the chocolate to leaded gasonline emissions that seeped into cocoa beans. A team of American and Nigerian researchers, however, found that lead levels […]
Mold Grows Like a Weed in New Orleans
Mold spores once harmless in dormancy have found a virtual fantasy world in everything from walls to carpets to clothing. New orleans, fueling the mold with its moisture and temperature, has become inundated with blackened wood and grayed walls. Mold will be the next hurdle residents of New Orleans will face, having already escaped destruction […]
New Orleans Facing Mold, Sewage, During Clean Up
New Orleans residences face final destruction after being buffetted by floodwaters, lack of power, and debris. For many houses now facing structural instability and mold, the wrecking ball will deal the final blow. Both local and federal experts predicted that few of the homes and buildings that have been inundated would be salvageable. If the […]
Landmark RI Lawsuit Moves Forward
According to the state, an agreement reached between the Rhode Island attorney general and the DuPont Company allows DuPont to avoid further litigation in exchange for $10 million to lead paint removal organizations across the state. The payment amount may climb depending on actual costs of removal – DuPont forecasts a probable amount of $12.5 […]
EPA Avoids Lead-Based Paint Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency has delayed work on completing required rules to protect children and construction workers from exposure to lead-based paint, exploring instead the possibility of using voluntary standards to govern building renovations and remodeling. EPA officials emphasize that they are concerned about lead exposure and its effect on children. They also point to […]
Lead Law Ruling Reaffirmed
An appeals court panel yesterday stopped a lawsuit, citing speculation and insufficient evidence of “injury in fact” by landlords challenging the city’s lead paint law. In its decision, the court wrote that the suit’s claim “that the local ordinance will lead to a reduction in affordable housing and an increase in cases of lead poisoning […]