MOLD TIMELINE - with URLs
by
Everette Lee Herndon, Jr.
B.C./A.D.
Leviticus 13-14. If the mildew spreads, the unclean item or property must be
removed and destroyed.
1837
Stachybotrys chartarum first described by Corda from wallpaper collected in a
home in
1920's Toxic effects of
stachybotrys chartarum reported in
1940's Reports of
stachybotryotoxicosis in humans reported in
1969
Pontiac Fever - 144 cases of building related illness, Pontiac, Michigan
1970's Yellow Rain attacks in
Southeast Asia - associated with mycotoxin known as trichothecene
1970's Martin L. King,
Technical Advisor to the National Institute of Disaster Restoration - On the
origins of mold remediation - "Problems associated with mildew were being
discussed in the 70's."
07-00-76 Legionnaires' Disease.
Legionella bacteria, 221 cases of pneumonia reported, 34 deaths.
1979
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (journal) - P.P.Kozak - Currently
Available Methods for Home Mold Surveys. Factors of importance in determining
the prevalence of indoor molds.
1980
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (journal) - Currently Available
Methods for Home Mould Surveys: II. Examples of Problem Homes Studied by PP
Kozak.
1983
Annu Rev Public Health - Health Effects of Indoor Pollutants by MD Liebowitz
12-09-83 Martensen v. S & S Constr. Co.
No. 30-58-07 (Orange County, Cal. Dec. 9, 1983) - verdict awarding $125,000 to
three plaintiffs claiming emotional distress, pre-existing allergies,
pneumonia, and asthma from mold growth caused by water seepage in their family
room.
03-00-85 Eur J Epidemiol, R.A.
Samson - Occurrence of molds in modern living and working environments.
1986
1986
Atmospheric Environment - W.A. Croft - Airborne Outbreak of Trichothecene
Toxicosis. Potential problem with stachybotrys chartarum. Family in
1987
1987
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Bioaerosol
Committee developed Bioaerosol Guidelines.
1987
Proceedings of IAQ 87 - Approaches to the Control of Indoor Microbial
Contamination
1987
Canada - Federal-Provincial Committee on Occupational Safety & Health -
guidelines for indoor air contaminants in residential housing
04-22-88 Holbrook
v. Barratt American, Inc. No. 43-95-29 (Orange County, Cal. April 22, 1988) -
verdict awarding plaintiffs $30,000 for respiratory infections, allergies, and
aggravation of diabetes and hypertension allegedly caused by mold growth
related to roof leaks from negligent construction.
1989
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Bioaerosol
Committee revises Bioaerosol Guidelines. Recommended a protocol for evaluating
mold and introduced idea of remediation.
1989
Occup Med State Art Rev - Indoor Air and Infectious Disease by H. Burge.
1989
Robertson, Vick & Capella -
01-00-90 US Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) & American Lung Association - Biological Pollutants in
Your Home
1990
World Health Organization (WHO) - more than 200 mycotoxins produced by a
variety of common fungi.
1990
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
B.B. Jarvis - "Mycotoxins and Indoor Air Quality" - found in:
Biological Contaminants in Indoor Environments (ASTM STP 1071)
H.A. Burge - "The Fungi" - found in Biological Contaminants In Indoor
Environments (ASTM STP 1071)
05-00-90 EPA, IAQ-0022 -
Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air.
Standardized sampling and analysis procedures for determining indoor
pollutants.
1991
Miller v. Lakeside Village Condominium Ass'n, Inc., 2 Cal. Rptr.2d 796 (Ct.
App. 1991) - affirming summary judgment for defendant condominium association
in 1986 case alleging that its negligence in failing to repair and maintain the
plumbing system in plaintiff's condominium caused plaintiff to suffer
allergies, asthma, and immune dysregulation.
1991
American Journal of Epidemiology - Respiratory Health Effects of Home Dampness
and Molds among Canadian Children.
1991
Journal of Applied Bacteriology Symposium Supplement - Allergenic and toxigenic
micro-organisms in houses.
1991
Robertson, Vick & Capella -
1991
Article entitled "Sewage Backflow Remediation" written by IICRC Water
Restoration Technician Advisory Committee, EPA and Research Triangle Institute
and used as basis for IICRC s500 "Standard and Reference Guide for
Professional Restoration Certification - per Jeff Bishop of Clean Care
Seminars, Inc.
02-00-91 Enviros -
03-00-91 Enviros - Aerobiology of the
Office Environment - Microbiological Agents: Overlooked Indoor Air Pollutants. By
Chin S. Yang, Ph.D. Water damage can lead to fungal spores and fungal growth
within 24 hours. http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/N01_03.htm
04-00-91 EPA, IAQ-0004
(402-F-94-004) -
12-00-91 EPA - IAQ - Appendix
C: Moisture, Mold and Mildew (From: Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building
Owners and Facility Managers)
http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/base/graphics/appenc.pdf
1992
American Red Cross (ARC 4477) & FEMA (FEMA 234) - Repairing Your Flooded
Home
1992 J
Med Vet Mycol., R.C. Summerbell - Ecology of Fungi in Human Dwellings.
1992
Atmospheric Environ - Fungi As Contaminants in Indoor Air, by JD Miller.
1992
Robertson, Vick & Capella -
01-00-92 EPA - (600-8-91-202) - Indoor
Biological Pollutants, by H. Burge.
03-00-92 Enviros - Legionella Bacteria in
Office Buildings. By Ling-Ling Hung, Ph.D. and Chin S. Yang,
Ph.D
http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/N02_03.htm
06-00-92 Enviros - Environmental
Awareness Education and Training. By Chin S. Yang, Ph.D. and Sue Smith, Ph.D.
Need education in indoor pollutants and remediation.
http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/N02_06.htm
1993
1993 B.
Flannigan - Health Implications of Fungus in Indoor Environments, an overview.
1993
Proceedings of Indoor Air -
1993
Clinical epidemiological study - health problems of workers in water damage
building, worked in water damaged buildings in 1980's.
1993
Canada - Federal-Provincial Committee on Occupational Safety & Health -
more detailed guidelines for indoor air contaminants in residential housing
01-00-93 North Carolina State
University - Mold, Dust Mites, Fungi, Spores, and Pollen: Bioaerosols in the
Human Environment. Molds and fungi can cause health problems, grow following
water damage, in crawl spaces, walls, etc.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/housing/docs/fcs3605.html
03-00-93 EPA, IAQ-0029 -
Targeting Indoor Air Pollution: EPA's Approach and
Progress
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/targetng.html
03-03-93 Chicago Tribune -
"Buildings That Sicken" - toxic mold
05-07-93 New York City, Dept of
Health, Bureau of Environmental & Occupational Disease Epidemiology -
Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Stachybotrys Atra in Indoor
Environments. Panel of experts, including CDC, NIOSH, etc. Mold following water
damage. Visual inspection. Remove it. Level III = large scale remediation =
more than 30 square feet - need trained personnel, containment, HEPA, sealed
bags, removal.
08-00-93 EPA, IAQ-0061
(402F-93-005) - Flood Cleanup: Avoiding Indoor Air Quality. Problems, after
flooding, moisture, microorganisms, cleanup.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/flood.html
08-00-93 Enviros - Protocol for
Microbial Control in Buildings After Water Intrusion. By Frank A. Lewis &
Chin S. Yang, Ph.D. Improper attention paid to microbial problems following
water loss, fungi start to grow within 24 hours, should remove and dispose of
wet ceiling tiles and drywall within 24 hours after water contact, remove and
replace all drywall up to 12 inches above waterline.
http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/N03_08.htm
1994
Harvard University School of Public Health study of 10,000 homes in US and
Canada found half had "conditions of water damage and mold associated with
a 50 to 100 % increase in respiratory symptoms."
1994
Chenniliaro v. Kaufman & Broad Home Sys. of La., Inc. 636 So.2d 246 (La.
Ct. App. 1994) - amending and affirming a jury verdict in a 1988 products
liability case alleging personal injury and property damages from mold growth
in a mobile home.
1994
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, P.L. Auger - Clinical Experience with
Patients Suffering ...Airborne Mold.
1994
American Environmental
1994
Building Science Corp - Mold, Moisture & Indoor Air Quality: A Guide to
Designers, Builders, and Building Owners. Available from Building Science Corp.
(978) 589-5100 or info@buildingscience.com
1993-1994 Cleveland,
09-00-94 Enviros - Toxic
Effects of Some Common Indoor Fungi. By Chin S. Yang, Ph.D. There has been an
explosion of cases related to toxigenic fungi in US and
http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/R04_09.htm
http://www.pgccinc.com/articles/toxic.htm
http://www.create-your-healthy-home.com/Free%20Info/toxic_effects_of_indoor_fungi.htm
12-00-94 Enviros - Regulating
Indoor Microbes. By Frank A. Lewis. Indoor microbes represent over one-third of
the IAQ problems in buildings. http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/N04_12.htm
12-09-94 US Dept Health and
Human Services - MMWR - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - Acute Pulmonary
Hemorrhage/Hemosiderosis Among Infants - Cleveland, January 1993 - November
1994. Cause undetermined.
1995
Leverence v. PFS Corp., 532 N.W.2d 735 (Wis. 1995) - considering a property
damages and personal injury case brought by 802 occupants of homes allegedly
subject to mold caused by excessive moisture.
1995
American Industrial Hygiene Association - Guidelines and Specifications for
Remediation.
1995
Robertson, Vick & Capella -
01-00-95 IICRC Water Damage
Standard S500-94 is published.
03-10-95 Edward H. Cross &
Assoc. - Lawsuit filed in Alameda, Condo complex in Fremont, water pipe breaks,
leaks, drainage problems, mold, failure to remediate. Settled for $545,000 in
1998 before trial.
06-00-95 Health
http://www.hc-sc.bc.ca/ehp/catalogue/bch_pubs/fungal.pdf
1995
Canada - Federal-Provincial Committee on Occupational Safety & Health -
separate report on fungus
1995
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal - Bioaerosol Concentrations in
Noncompliant, Compliant and Intervention Homes in the Midwest, by J. DeKoster.
01-00-95 Invironment -
Microbial Issues Under Consideration for the Revision of ASHRAE Standard
62-1989.
04-00-95 EPA, IAQ-0009 -(EPA
402-K-93-007) - The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Sources of
pollution in home and measures to reduce it. Reducing exposure to biological
contaminants. Clean and dry water damaged materials within 24 hours or consider
removal and
replacement.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
Fall 1995
http://www.buildinggreen.com/elists/flood.html
10-00-95 International Archives
of Occupational and Environmental Health - Prolonged and intense exposure to
toxigenic stachybotrys chartarum and other atypical fungi associated with
reported disorders of respiratory and central nervous system, immune system,
etc.
10-00-95 Environmental Health -
Long Term Monitoring of Mold Contamination in Flooded Homes by M. Pearce.
11-00-95 Edward H. Cross &
Associates - Filed lawsuit in San Bernardino, home, sewage backup, negligent
cleanup, failure to warn, toxic mold contamination. Settled for $600,818 in Oct
1997 just 10 days before trial.
11-05-95 Sacramento Bee -Firm Sued
Over Home, Damp House Prompts Action - mold/illness/lawsuit
1996
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) - Field Guide for the
Determination for Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples. Sampling is
important because half of microbial problems are not visible. Growth of mold in
buildings is no longer just a cosmetic problem but is a potential threat to
human health.
1996
Indoor Air Solutions, Inc. - Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra): A New Emerging
Fungal Threat and Methods of Dealing with Contamination. Stachybotrys found on
wet materials with cellulose content, look for visible fungus growth. Most
experts agree, if over one square foot, it is a medium and large scale growth
that needs to be remediated by professionals.
1996
Facilities Net - Indoor Microbial Garden. Mold can grow on any carbon source
when sufficient moisture is present. Stachybotrys can be found following water
damage.
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/NS/NS3b86h.html
1996 J
Air Waste Mngmt Assn - Review of Quantitative Standards and Guidelines for
Fungi in Indoor Air, by C.Y. Rao.
1996
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health - E. Johanning
- Health and Immunological Study Following Exposure to Toxigenic Fungi
(Stachybotrys chartarum) in a Water-Damaged Office Environment. Growing concern
of adverse health effects of fungal bio-aerosols. Water damage, found
stachybotrys, adverse health effects.
02-00-96 Enviros - Learning to
Deal With Microbial Contamination in Buildings. A number of training courses,
workshops, symposia, etc focused on microbial contamination have been offered
within last 3 years. Specialized training should be developed for many,
including insurance adjusters. Certain visual signs of microbe contamination
should automatically trigger a decision for a clean up.
http://www.envirovillage.com/Newsletters/Enviros/T06_02.htm
02-00-96 Invironment -
Microbial Issues. Article on revisions of ASHRAE Standard 62-1989, Ventilation
for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. Association between moisture, fungi and
building related illness has been demonstrated repeatedly. One side of a gypsum
wall board covered with fungi requires hazardous waste containment procedures.
03-00-96 American Industrial
Hygiene Association Journal - Exposure to Airborne Microbes During the Repair
of Moldy Buildings. Concentrations of airborne fungi increased during repair
work. Construction workers are exposed to high concentrations of microbes,
possibly causing health problems.
04-00-96 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" -
05-00-96 Water Loss Institute's
(WLI) First Conference and Exhibition. Per Ron Reese, past president of Water
Loss Institute. WLI held it's first Conference in
05/06-96 CA-DoH - "Fungi
& Indoor Air Quality," by Sandra V. McNeel, DVM. This report
specifically focuses on fungal contamination in office and home environments.
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/fungi_indoor.html
07-00-96 Medical Laboratory
Observer -
Paper 253 - Toxins Produced by Fungi in Water-Damaged Buildings. Water damaged
buildings can harbor toxigenic fungi which threaten health of occupants.
10-00-96 Association News
Network (web sites and publications for claims organizations in
01-00-96 Best's Review -
Property-Casualty Insurance Edition - Indoor air pollution --Economic aspects;
Workers' compensation--Management; Employer liability--Insurance
http://library.northernlight.com/YY19970425030199194.html?cb=0&sc=0#doc
10-00-96 CDC/NIOSH -
"Causes and Symptoms of Mold and Dust Induced Respiratory Illness" Authors:
Glen H. Hetzel and J. Butler, Agricultural Engineering Department, Virginia
Tech.. Discussion of Farmer's Lung disease.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/docs4/va98022.html
12-00-96 Invironment -
Assessing and Sampling Fungal Contaminants in the Indoor Environment. Many
fungal growths are not detected because they are in wall cavities. Water is
single most important factor in fungal growth. Superficial removal may only
temporarily reduce fungi because they have a root-like structure (mycelium)
that penetrates deep into the substrate of contaminated materials. Consensus of
many experts is that people should not be allowed to work or live in an
environment contaminated by fungi.
12-28-96 Martin County
Courthouse in Stuart,
1997
Journal of American Medical Association - Floods Carry Potential For Toxic Mold
Disease, by C. Marwick.
1997
DriEaz Products, Inc. - Factors That Contribute to Mold Growth Indoors After
Water Damage. Mold grows on water damaged
material.
http://www.dri-eaz.com/articles5.html
1997
Robertson, Vick & Capella -
Jan 1997 Facility Management Journal (Puritan Flood
Restoration) - New Technologies For Flood Abatement Can Save Money. Usually
only 10 to 15 percent of water damage can be seen, the other 85 to 90 percent is
hidden within walls and ceilings. Mold will grow in wall cavities left wet. 70
percent of all insurance claims are water related. Water damage must be cleaned
and dried
quickly.
http://www.puritancompanies.com/flood/technologies.html
01-00-97 Invironment -
Stachybotrys chartarum. Thrives on water damaged cellulosic materials. Concerns
in the 1980's because of documented cases of stachybotrys contamination and
illnesses.
01-00-97 Invironment - Fungi
and Indoor Air Quality. All fungal spores contain allergens of varying potency.
Some are toxic. Since 1982, approximately 20 studies have been conducted on the
association of dampness, mold and respiratory health in
02-00-97 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" -
http://www.claimspeople.com/html/master_1mar97.html
04-00-97 CA Dept of Health
Services - Stachybotrys chartarum (atra): A Mold That May Be Found in
Water-damaged Homes. Study in
http://www.claimspeople.com/html/master_1apr97.html
05-00-97 Journal of American
Medical Association - Marwick - Floods Carry Potential For Toxic Mold Fungus.
06-30-97 National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences and CDC, NIEHS PR # 12-97 - Stachybotrys linked
to Cleveland infant deaths, found in homes with water damage.
07-00-97
Heating/Piping/AirConditioning (HPAC) - The Fungi: How They Grow and Their
Effects on Human Health, by Harriet A. Burge, PhD. Many fungi produce toxic
compounds that affect human health. Because of the potential severity of
resulting diseases, a conservative approach to the control of toxigenic fungi
is essential.
http://www.hpac.com/member/basics/iaq/9707burge.html
Paper 47 - Complete with Significant Water Infiltration. Positive correlation
for presence of water damage and amount of visible growth and airborne
concentrations of Stachybotrys chartarum.
http://www.aiha.org/abs97/7bioaer.html
Paper 110 - Prevalence of Aspergillus Versicolor in Residential and
10-00-97 Edward H. Cross &
Associates - Filed lawsuit in Nov 1995 in San Bernardino, home, sewage backup,
negligent cleanup, failure to warn, toxic mold contamination. Settled for
$600,818 in Oct 1997 just 10 days before trial.
10-00-97 Invironment - Is It
Time for an Objective Look at Stachybotrys? Ten years ago focus was on
allergenic reactions, not toxic effects. Today concern is on toxic effects.
While not scientifically certain of stachybotrys causing problems attributed to
it, any mold growth in buildings should be eliminated.
11-00-97 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" -
1998 American Industrial
Hygiene Association Journal - Control of Exposure to Airborne Viable
Microorganisms During Remediation of Moldy Buildings, by R. Dales.
1998 Robertson, Vick &
Capella -
1998 Journal of Toxicology,
Clinical Toxicology - Stachybotrys, a Mycotoxin-Producing Fungus of Increasing
Toxicologic Importance. Mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys is capable of
producing immunosuppression and inflammatory results to gastrointestinal and
pulmonary systems.
1998 Palmer v. Sears, Roebuck
& Co., 969 S.W.2d 582 (
02-00-98 Berry v.
02-00-98 Robertson, Vick &
Capella -
03-00-98 CA Dept of Health
Services - Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet. Mold in My Home: What Do I Do?
Materials permeated with mold need to be removed, even after they are
disinfected with cleaning solutions. Allergic and toxic effects can remain in
deadly spores. http://www.cal-iaq.org/mold9803.htm
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/Moldhome%20Eng.html
03-00-98 American College of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine - Building-Associated Pulmonary Disease From Exposure to
Stachybotrys Chartarum and Aspergillus Versicolor. Study of individuals exposed
to fungi and illnesses reported. Moisture indoors represents a public health
issue currently inadequately addressed by building, health or housing codes.
http://www.acoem.org/pubs/joem/0398abs.htm#Building
03-00-98 Building Environment
Report - Views of four top indoor environmental litigation experts on how to
handle building air quality cases.
04-00-98
04-00-98 CA Dept of Health -
"Health Effects of Toxin-Producing Indoor Molds in
05-00-98 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" - Playa Del Rey, CA, custom home roof
leaks, ceiling collapse, stachybotrys, $900,000 against builder.
05-01-98 Doe Homeowners v. Roe
Builder, Confidential Report for Attorneys No. 10272 (settlement
07-00-98 American Industrial
Hygiene Association Journal - Control of Exposure to Airborne Viable
Microorganisms During Remediation of Moldy Buildings; Report of Three Case
Studies. Most effective control method was local exhaust method used for
asbestos dismantling.
07-01-98 BBJ Environmental
Solutions, Inc - "IAQ, lawsuits, and you" - Microbial growth from
chronic water intrusion, may result in litigation.
http://www.bbjenviro.com/news_indoor_air_070198.asp
http://www.fema.gov/diz98/d1230n08.htm
Fall 1998 "Pathfinder:
Representing the
09-00-98 Munoz v. Henry Phipps
Plaza South No. 109895/99 (N.Y. County Supr. Ct. filed Sept. 1998) - seeking,
in conjunction with over 140 families, a total of $8 billion in personal injury
and property damages related to mold contamination.
1999
Kolnick v. Fountainview Ass'n,737 So.2d 1192 (Fla. Ct. App. 1999) - alleging
that association's failure to maintain the roof of the building resulted in
water intrusion in plaintiff's apartment causing mold and mildew growth.
1999
Centex-Rooney Constr. Co. v.
1999
Clean Care - Seminars - Agents & Adjusters - Water Damage Restoration -
Seminars have been offered for many years, approved in more than 25 states for
Continuing Education Credits.
1999
Robertson, Vick & Capella - Microbiological Contamination Litigation a.k.a.
"The Mold Monster" by Alexander Robertson. Litigation concerning mold
contamination is growing, both in CA and nationwide. In landlord/tenant cases,
landlord may be exposed to punitive damages if knew and failed to remediate
mold. Many recent mold verdicts, $350,000 to $48 million.
1999
Robertson, Vick & Capella - Sick Building Syndrome in the Construction
Defect Case by Alexander Robertson. Cites earliest report of fungal illness in
Leviticus, notes numerous cases since 1989.
01-15-99 Ed Ajlouny - water
damage/mold/Allstate/lawsuit/injuries. See Detroit News 3-30-00
01-29-99 Merced Sun-Star -
Moldbusters Warn That It's Easy to Cultivate Mold in Typical Homes. Wet
building materials provide good place for molds to grow.
02-03-99 American
Phytopathological Society (APS) News Release - Household Fungus Contributes to
"Sick Building Syndrome". Over the past 20 years in North America
evidence has accumulated implicating stachybotrys as a serious problem in water
damaged homes and buildings. Commonly found following water damage. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990208071455.htm
03-01-99 BBJ Environmental
Solutions, Inc - "Whose Fault is it Anyway?" - Water intrusion may
result in fungal growth and problems.
http://www.bbjenviro.com/news_indoor_air_030199.asp
Spring 1999 The Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel - "Sick
Building Syndrome: Airing Insurance Coverage Issues Arising From This New Wave
of Toxic Tort Litigation", by Michael T. Lucey. SBS and associated claims
will proliferate in coming years. Two main causes of SBS: (1) microbial
contamination and (2) volatile organic compounds (VOC). Example of microbial
contamination, is water intrusion into home and mold forming in walls
http://www.thefederation.org/public/quarterly/Spring99/lucey.htm
Spring 1999 The Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel - Sick Building
Syndrome: a Potpourri Analysis, by Brian A. Wood
http://www.thefederation.org/public/Quarterly/Spring99/wood.htm
04-00-99 Invironment - Flood
Restoration. Rapid response to water damage is critical. Microbiologically
damaged structure is not a safe environment. If significant mold growth occurs,
occupants should be evacuated. Remove and discard water damaged drywall.
Non-viable fungi remain allergenic and toxigenic.
04-01-99 BBJ Environmental
Solutions, Inc - "My Building Stinks!" - "Odor" in building
may make you sick.. Look for cause - microbial, etc.
http://www.bbjenviro.com/news_indoor_air_040199.asp
04-20-99 Insurance Information
Network of California (IINC) & Western Insurance Information Service
(WIIS)- "Winter Rains Can Cause Dangerous Mold." Untreated water
damage can cause mold and fungi, lurking behind walls.
http://www.iinc.org/news/home/winter.html
http://www.wiis.org/newarticles/mold990420.htm
04-21-99 Property and
Casualty.com - A Fungus Among Us? Rains, water intrusions, fungus lurking in
damp spaces behind walls.
05-00-99 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" - Simi Valley, CA, homeowner association
failed to repair water damage, mold, condo, condo owner recovered $350,000.
05-00-99 The Underwriters' Wire
- "Texan Files Criminal Complaint Against Farmers Employees" -
Ballard files criminal complaint for mold injuries.
http://www.uwreport.com/wire/news0599/0528far.htm
05-03-99 Engineering News
Report - Containing Noxious Mold. Cost of abating mold can be astronomical.
Mold investigations can range from $3,500 to more than $1 million. Remediation,
full scale asbestos type, can be $150 per square foot. Containment costs 10
times as much as ripping something out or ordinary cleaning. The 500,000 sq ft
Polk County building cost $27 million to build in the late 1980s and about $37
million to remediate. http://www.enr.com/new/C0503.asp
05-17-99 Hickenbottom v. Racquet
Club Villa Homeowners Ass'n, No. SC 020 526 (settlement, May 17, 1999) -
alleging water intrusion into the crawl space beneath plaintiff's townhouse
unit.
05-18-99 NY Times -
"Tenants Sue Landlord, Alleging Toxic Mold" - 300 tenants in two buildings
sue alleging toxic mold.
05-19-99 IERB - Indoor
Environmental Remediation Board. Mission is to develop and promulgate best
practices in building remediation. (James Holland is a board member.)
05-28-99 Electric Library -
Melinda Ballard has filed criminal complaint against two FIG employees,
negligence in settling claim. Stachybotrys, delays, not informed, illness.
06-00-99 Environmental Health
Perspectives - Danish study, 23 mold infected buildings - Stachybotrys encountered
=19%
06-00-99 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" - New York, apartment owners sue with
125 lawsuits totaling $8 billion for injuries due to mold exposure.
06-17-99 CDC - Report of the
CDC internal working groups that reanalyzed the investigation of 1993-1996
Cleveland infant lung bleeding cases. http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/ref29.pdf
07-20-99 PRNewswire - Farmers
sued for $100 million over mold in Texas home. Farmers did not act immediately
as recommended by scientific experts.
08-17-99 Stroot v. New
Haverford Partnership- No. 95C-05-074-HLA, 1999 WL 753916 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug.
17, 1999). After finding a Delaware apartment building owner and property
management company negligent (re mold), a jury awarded former residents over $1
million in personal injury damages for alleged aggravation of pre-existing
asthma, cognitive deficits, bronchitis, and immune system
"abnormalities" due to an alleged failure by the property owner and
management company to remediate water problems and fungal contamination.
08-30-99 ABC - Science -
"Fungi and Mould" Broadcast Monday 30 August 1999, with Rae Fry.
Report on a big study just done in Finland about fungi and mould in indoor air.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s48140.htm
09-00-99
Best's Review - "Mold: A Growing Problem." Ballard - suit for $100
million. Utah Dept of Health recommends removal of all water damaged material
once mold is present., use qualified technicians wearing protective clothing if
mold is
present
http://bestreview.com/pc/1999-09/lossntbk.html
09-00-99 Robertson, Vick &
Capella - "The Mold Monster" - Employees file suit against employer
for $100 million for requiring them to renovate asbestos, mold and lead paint
without protective equipment or warning.
09-09-99 BBJ Environmental
Solutions, Inc - "Radon and Mold"
09-21-99 Property and
Casualty.com - Hidden Dangers Lurk in Flood Cleanup. Receding flood waters
leave damp areas where fungi thrive.
10-00-99 Water Loss Institute
1999 Conference and Exposition - Focused on: (1) The Mechanics of Moisture in
the Building, (2) Methods - Part One: Impacts of Moisture on Components and
Systems - Applications of Standards; (3) Part Two: Practical Approaches to
Mitigation, Remediation and Restoration of Components Contents; and (4)
Perspectives: A Forum Exploring Issues of the Present and Future of Water
Damage. For drywall, cut holes at bottom of each stud cavity to drain water.
Presence of concealed mold may require removal of drywall.
10-21-99 Building Contamination
Workshop, San Francisco. Legalities of Microbial Contamination in Buildings, by
Edward H. Cross. Currently represents over 200 victims of building
contamination.
10-26-99 Ideal Restorative
Drying, Inc. - Seminar on Water Loss and Damage Restoration for a Healthy
Indoor Environment. Open to insurance companies and adjusters. Held in Foster
City, CA.
10-11-99 FEMA - Floods Carry a
Hazardous Potential for Toxic Mold. Visible mold. Behind walls. Remove
sheetrock.
http://www.fema.gov/hu99/d1299n22.htm
11-00-99 NYC Dept of Health -
Facts About Mold. It is more important to get rid of it than to find out about
it.
Http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/ei/eimold.html
11-01-99 Canadian Insurance -
"From Mold to Mildew." Hazardous mold in buildings represents growing
problem. (See Health Canada 00-00-95). US based Institute of Inspection,
Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has just released the Second
Edition of their Standard S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional
Water Damage Restoration which focuses more on potential harm from mold growth.
11-11-99 Insure.com - Water,
Fire, Smoke or Mold Damage? By Ryan O'Neil. You Need a Certified Restorer!
Certified restorers specialize in getting rid of mold, example of water damage
when owner away and resulting mold farm.
http://www.insure.com/home/certrestorer.html
11-27-99 D etroit News - Make Sure
Water Leaks Don't Ruin Your Home While You Vacation. Water damage can yield
mold and problems. One house, insurance company wanted only to wash and paint,
found stachybotrys. Water in walls must be drained and dried, water soaked
drywall should be removed.
11-29-99 BBJ Environmental
Solutions, Inc - "Mold North vs. South" - Discussion on conditions,
climate, etc, for mold growth. http://www.bbjenviro.com/news_articles_112999.asp
12-00-99 Claims magazine -
Water Loss Institute, FEMA, etc - water not addressed for more than 72 hours
can cause mold, etc.
12-00-99 CDC - Report of
Members of the CDC Expert Panel on Acute Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Infants: A
Synthesis. Panel concurred on significant points regarding the quality of the
scientific evidence and the validity of the conclusions linking Stachybotrys to
acute infant pulmonary hemorrhage/ hemosiderosis (AIPH). Linkage not warranted
by the scientific evidence produced by the investigations, Science was flawed.
Protocols and procedures not standard, conditions between illness and testing
changed, no proof of actual exposure of infant to fungi. However - most
panelists believe hypothesis had some plausibility and merited further
investigation, CDC should continue investigations, set standards and remain
involved.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/ref30.pdf
12-01-99 NY OSHA - Comparison
of Successful and Unsuccessful Stachybotrys Chartarum Remediation Projects, by
Richard Scott and Chin Yang. Study on remediation projects. Fungal
contamination is serious. Use methods similar to asbestos
abatement.
http://www.toxicmold.org/documents/0322.html
12-03-99 USA Weekend - The Mold
In Your Home May Be Deadly. Deadly mold in Texas home, leaks in 1998 and
illness by March 1999. $100 million lawsuit against Farmers.
12-03-99 BBJ Environmental -
Mold: A Health Alert. A 1999 Mayo Clinic study pegged nearly all chronic sinus
infections afflicting 37 million Americans to molds. A 1994 Harvard University
School of Public Health study of 10,000 homes in US and Canada found half had
"conditions of water damage and mold associated with a 50 to 100 %
increase in respiratory
symptoms."
http://www.bbjenviro.com/news_indoor_air_120399.asp
12-20-99 Sacramento Bee - Slow
School Repairs. Building flooded by vandals, professional cleaners to prevent
mold.
2000
Fickett v. Davis Management Corp. No. SC 059598 (Los Angeles, Cal. County
Super.Ct. filed 2000) - A California apartment complex owner and its individual
employees were sued for negligently allowing mold to grow within the units,
allegedly causing residents to suffer severe personal injury and death.
Residents are claiming medical, moving, investigation, funeral and burial, and
legal expenses.
00-00-00 WA, Dept of Health -
"Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health?" by Harriet M.
Ammann, PhD - Fungus ubiquitous. Health effects: allergy, infection, irritation
and toxic. Discusses eact effect. History. Types of mold. Public health
practice indicates removal from exposure, clean up and remediation. Unwise to
wait for lab results. http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/mold.html
01-00-00 IE Connections -
Jumping on the Remediation Learning Curve, by Jim Holland. Need to learn about
and use proper techniques and personnel to avoid liability problems, etc.
http://www.ieconnections.com/archive/jan_00/1_2000feature.htm
01-01-00 IINC & WIIS -
"Frozen, Broken Water Pipes Can Be Home Owner Nightmare." Frozen and
broken water pipes rank No. 2 in number of homes damaged and claim costs in US.
Can cause mold. Sometimes homes have to be gutted because of mold and mildew.
http://www.iinc.org/cons_issues/home/frozen.html
http://www.wiss.org/pipes.htm
02-01-00
Douglas R. Haney, "Toxic Mold - Toxic Enemy" - Book describing mold,
clean up costs, medical problems.
02-03-00 PRNewswire - Grand
Jury issues report on ‘Endangerment to a Child' charges against Farmers
Insurance. Texas
02-07-00 60 Minutes: Sick
Building Syndrome (CBS television)
02-16-00 Occupational &
Environmental Medicine (OEM) Forum - Stachybotrys a. prevalence in health care
settings, by Eckardt Johanning. Stachybotrys usually found with other molds,
toxigenic. May be little data re Stachybotrys actual effect, but cocktail
effect must be considered.
http://mailman.mc.duke.edu/pipermail/occ-env-med-l/2000-February/012331.html
02-20-00 Environmental News
Network - "Household mold hide-and-go-seek" Mold grows in damp
places, causes medical problems.
http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2000/02/02202000/mold_10099.asp
02-29-00 MedScape General
Medicine - Stachybotrys chartarum: Current Knowledge of Its Role in Disease.
Health risks from exposure are poorly defined but it is becoming clear that
other potentially toxigenic fungi are more common than previously
acknowledged.
http://www.calcs-plus.com/stachybotrys.htm
03-00-00 Krant v. County of
Tulare, No. 00-1090367 (Tulare County Superior Ct.). A California judge filed a
personal injury lawsuit against Tulare County for various physical ailments
including hair loss, dizziness, episodic vertigo, acute abdominal pain,
respiratory distress, tinitis, facial swelling, and severe rashes, allegedly
caused by exposure to microbiological contamination within the courtroom where
she presided. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages,
including medical monitoring.
03-02-00 CBS News, 48 Hours - An Insidious Mold, A Dream House Loses Charm, Can
Cause Brain Damage? Report on the Ballards in Austin Texas.
03-09-00 Center for Disease
Control (CDC) - Bulletin - "Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys
chartarum and other molds." It is not necessary to determine what type of
mold you have. All molds should be treated the same. Problems - allergies,
immune suppression or underlying lung disease. If you have extensive mold,
contact a professional. Once mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard -
remove it. Moldy items should be discarded. If find mold, prudent practice is
to remove it. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/asthma/factsheets/molds/default.htm
03-09-00 EPA, Indoor
Environment Management Branch - Children's Health Initiative: Toxic Mold.
Stachybotrys has been studied for the past 20 years. Remediation must be
performed with care. Since 1991, EPA has conducted research into conditions
that permit building material colonization by
fungi.
http://www.epa.gov/appcdwww/crb/iemb/child.htm
03-10-00 MMWR - Update:
Pulmonary Hemorrhage/Hemosiderosis Among Infants - Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996.
A review by CDC and outside experts identified shortcomings in the
implementation and reporting of original report. Conclusion is that a possible
association between acute infant pulmonary hemorrhage/ hemosiderosis (AIPH) in
infants and exposure to molds, specifically Stachybotrys chartarum was not
proven. Questioned sampling techniques, shortcomings in the collection,
analysis and reporting. Overall, the reviewers concluded that on the basis of
these limitations the evidence from these studies was not of sufficient quality
to support an association between S. chartarum and
AIPH."
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4909a3.htm
3-14/18-00 ASCR 2000 Convention & Exposition,
Nashville, TN.
[See Ed Cross, The Mold Attorney (e-mail dated 5-10-00) - "A few insurance
VP's recently spoke in Nashville and said they are ‘very concerned' about
mold."]
03-15-00 OEM Forum -
Stachybotrys revisited, by Eckardt Johanning. Surprised at CDC report.
Questions who they talked to. He and colleagues not consulted. Questions
reliance on sources that have not researched fungi. Disappointed. Need open
debate and disclosure of CDC advisers. Referenced an insider report from Jim
White, a former Canadian Health Official who speculates on pressures on
CDC/government officials.
03-24-00 The Plain Dealer =
Letter re: Committed to halting bleeding-lung disease. Letter by Case Western
Reserve University re CDC report questioning linkage of mold to infant deaths
in Cleveland. Research ongoing, urges protect children from mold.
03-26-00 PLRB Claims Conference
- Seminar - "There's a Fungus Among Us! Microbial Contamination and other
Issues Related to Sick Building Syndrome" (National conference held
annually for adjusters, etc.)
03-30-00 Detroit News - Health
Problems Linked to Mold. Ed Ajlouny, house flooded in Jan 1999, medical
problems, moved out, mold problems. Allstate stalled and delayed. Lawsuit.
Allstate offered $34,229. Contractor building estimates of $200,000. Personal
property estimates of $147,000.
03-30-00 Detroit News -
Neighbor Rues Foot-dragging. Mold in home, problems, default on loan, govt.
took over house and tested and found stachybotrys.
Spring-2000 DRI - "Defense Perspectives on the Use
of Neuropsychological Experts in Toxic Tort Cases" By David Ferro
http://www.milesstockbridge.com/articles/DefensePerspectives.htm
04-00-00 Invironment Newsletter
-
Grand Jury Issues Report on Child Endangerment From Stachybotrys - possible
evidence that Farmers Insurance may have knowingly or intentionally exposed 3
year old boy to Stachybotrys.
IAQ Goes Prime Time - An early March 2000 segment on CBS's 48 Hours raised the
ante on mold contamination, (1) focus on case in Texas and (2) findings of Dr.
Dearborn re Cleveland deaths in 1993-96 and (3) studies by Dr. Johanning of
over 600 patients exposed to toxic mold. If you find black mold, call the
health department.
04-00-00 RIMS - Rough Notes
Magazine - Sick Building Syndrome Should You Be Worried? - RIMS special panel
to discuss this lurking problem http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmag/april00/04p88.htm
04-00-00 Property Claims Forum,
Sacramento. Mildew - mildew develops following water damage.
04-00-00 NYC Dept of Health -
Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments. A
revision and update of the 1993 Guidelines. Expands original guidelines to
include ALL fungi (mold.) Not possible to determine safe levels of exposure.
Need equipment to check behind walls, etc. Visible fungal contamination should
proceed without further evaluation. Porous contaminated material such as
wallboard should be removed and
discarded.
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html
04-05-00 CDC - Disease
Information - Aspergillosis - invasive pulmonary infection.
04-12-00 OEM Forum - Comments
regarding the CDC/WMMR Stachybotrys position/advisory, by Eckardt Johanning.
Cautions against underestimating allergenic and toxigenic fungal exposures.
Cites comments from European researcher/colleague - shocked by ignorance shown
by CDC, building related mycotoxin exposure is great, studies in Finland.
05/06-00 American Indoor Air
Quality Council newsletter - "Assessment and Remediation Guidelines of
Fungi in Indoor Environments" - discussion of revised NYC guidelines on
mold.
05-09-00 David J. Elsberry of
BBJ Environmental (e-mail) - "According to the insurance industry, toxic
mold from water damage does not happen, they refuse to acknowledge it, as a
matter of fact they laughed out loud."
05-09-00 Chin S. Yang, Ph.D.,
P&K Microbiology (e-mail) - "I have seen too many cases that either
insurance companies or their adjusters reacted too slowly to water damage and
mold problems."
05-10-00 Ed Cross, "The
Mold Attorney" (e-mail) - "Sadly, most adjusters are not very well
informed. In fact, rumor has it that some of the very topic (sp) insurance
executives believe mold is not a problem. However, there are small pockets of
adjusters here and there who are attending conferences and starting to
appreciate the general issue. A few insurance VP's recently spoke in Nashville
and said they are ‘very concerned' about mold."
05-16-00 Penn Air Group -
"2nd Annual sick Building Syndrome Conference", held in LA.
Discussions on IAQ and microbial contamination litigation.
05-17-00 River Valley Times -
Former RM Residents Sue Local Entities Over Mold Illness. Suit against Rancho
Murieta Association, Murieta Townhouse Inc, Operating Engineers, former
homeowner and the realtor. Improper water drainage, mold, illness.
05-22-00 Sid Lunday, Dri-Eaz
Products, Inc (e-mail) - (re: mold and the insurance industry) "My
experience with adjusters is the same. They tend to plead ignorance."
05-22-00 Martin L. King,
Technical Advisor to the National Institute of Disaster Restoration (e-mail) -
On the origins of mold remediation - "Problems associated with mildew were
being discussed in the 70's. Real public and industry awareness started with
the original Legionaire's Disease deaths in Philadelphia around 1985 (date?).
It has been the subject of articles and seminars ever since."
[Note: July 1976 is the correct date]
05-23-00 Paul Daniele, The
Puritan Companies, (e-mail) - "...questions about Insurance Adjusters and
their awareness of mold as being a significant problem. From my experience as a
Restorative Drying specialist, I have found they have very little knowledge of
mold and its health implications. ... Mold is an invisible enemy. By not
allowing proper drying the adjuster may think they are doing the customer and
the insurance company right. When in reality, they could be doing a greater
disservice with regards to health issues and possible a legal issues."
05-26-00 Indoor Air Quality
Symposium with emphasis on biological contamination, St. Louis, MO, sponsored
by Steamatic Environmental Services. Targeted for insurance adjusters, etc.
Accredited by various Dept of Insurance.
05-31-00 Jed M. Waldman, Ph.D.,
Chief, Indoor Air Quality, CA Dept of Health Services (e-mail) (re: mold in
homes, etc.) - "...the ACGIH. Their Bioaerosol Committee ... produced a
series of ‘guidelines,' starting in 1989."
06-00-00 International Risk
Management Institute - "There's a Fungus Among Us," by Jeff Slivka,
ECS Underwriting, Inc. In the 1990s, microbiological contamination began its
climb as one of the biggest environmental problems facing building owners,
contractors and architects and
engineers.
http://www.irmi.com/expert/articles/slivka002.asp
06-00-00 Invironment newsletter
- Aspergillosis - infection affecting primarily the lungs. Fungus ball can grow
in lungs.
06-00-00 Invironment newsletter
- The Strange Case of Stachybotrys, by Ed Light, CIH. In 1994 Stachybotrys
became hot topic. Mold should not be ignored, but mold growth should not be
treated as hazardous. Determine on case by case basis.
06-00-00 For the Defense
(Defense Research Institute) - "Sick Buildings: Is the Rising Tide About
to Turn?" By John Parker Sweeney and Sky Woodward
http://www.milesstockbridge.com/articles/sickbuildings.htm
06-05-00 Business Week - by
Michelle Conlin, "Is Your Office Killing You? Sick Buildings are Seething
With Molds, Monoxide -and Worse." Business Week, at page 114.
07-00-00 Undated report, but
subsequent to CDC report of 3-10-00 - Pulmonary Hemorrhage and Hemosiderosis in
Infants - by Dr. Dorr G. Dearborn, etc, from Rainbow Babies and Children's
Hospital and Case Western Reserve University. A response to the CDC report of
March 10, 2000 which questioned scientific proof linking Stachybotrys to
Cleveland infant deaths in 1993/94. Includes Investigator Team's Response to
MMWR Report. Says CDC misunderstood the data, did not visit sites, ignored
responses by original team, and did not include any of original team in review.
07/08-00 American Indoor Air
Quality Council, newsletter - "Stachybotrys Settlement Reached" -
Settlement of $978,000 in a case in Arizona, reverse osmosis system leak and
mold problems. Attorney Ed Cross. Allstate Insurance Co., et al.
07/08-00 American Indoor Air
Quality Council, newsletter - "Water Damage Claims & Mold" by
Everette Lee Herndon, Jr. - Water damage must be cleaned and drying started
promptly or mold may result.
http://www.leeherndon.com/MoldIAQ.htm
07-09-00 Sacramento Bee - Mold
to blame for work illness? Laws, medical tests provide little help. Mold in the
workplace.
07-11-00 Rocky Mountain News -
Home, sick home. Indoor air pollution includes molds like Stachybotrys.
07-13-00 E-mail from Charles
Cassani with Steamatic - Farmer's Insurance may now be covering construction
defect mold cases and then subrogating back against builder.
07-21-00 Phone conversation
with Mike Bruneau, The Lund Group, on Ballard case. He says State Farm recently
had mold/illness at their HQ office, remediation, etc, but apparently not
extending info to field claims under policies.
08-00-00 Claims magazine -
"Mold & Mildew: A Creeping Catastrophe" by Everette Lee Herndon,
Jr. and Chin S. Yang, PhD. Adjusters must respond quickly to water damage
claims, get water extraction started and check for mold.
http://www.claimsmag.com/Issues/aug00/mold.asp
http://www.leeherndon.com/MoldMild.htm
08-05-00 Telephone discussion
with Melinda Ballard - She has database of over 7,000 mold claims in past 1 ½
years. Anticipates her case going to trial in Feb/Apr 2001.
08-10-00 EPA - Mold Links and
General Information Page - Information Sheet on Molds. Synopsis of mold,
flooding, health, homes, etc. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/moldresources.html
08-20-00 USA Weekend - Mold in
Schools: a health alert. Report on various schools and problems.
Summer 00 Aerotech Monitor - Stachybotrys chartarum
Detection Technology - Genetically based system to quickly test for
Stachybotrys. Also chart summary of NYC Guidelines.
09-04-00 Time magazine -
"Mold Busters" - Mold in homes, medical problems, lawsuits, etc.
09-15-00 Claims Conference of
Northern California - Seminar - Mold: Coverage & Analysis.
09-28-00 CBS News - cbsnews.com
- An Insidious Mold. Discussion of the Ballard case.
http://cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,167069-412,00.shtml
Fall 2000 Aerotech Monitor by
Aerotech Labs. "Mycotoxin Analyses Now Available" - Analysis for
trichothecenes now available.
09-29-00 Anderson v. Allstate
Ins. Co. No. CIV-S-00-907-PAN (E.D. Cal. verdict Sept. 29, 2000). Northern
California jury awarded a 96-year-old man $500,000 in economic and emotional
distress damages and $18 million in punitive damages after he sued Allstate,
his insurance carrier, for refusing to pay for mold remediation and related
repairs in his home.
10-00-00 IEQ Strategies by
Cutter Info. Corp - "When to Search for Hidden Mold in Office
Buildings" - With water intrusion and occupant complaints of medical
problems similar to microbial or mold problems, you need to look for hidden
mold/microbial sources and remediate.
http://cutter.com/ieqs/2000toc.htm
10-00-00 HR magazine -
Sick Buildings Discusses sick buildings and need for
action.
http://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/1000cov.htm
10-02-00 Lawyers Weekly USA -
"Toxic Mold...the Next Asbestos" by Sylvia Hsieh. Mold claims are on
the rise. Mold being closely monitored by insurers' radar screens. Examples of
lawsuits around the country.
http://www.breatheasier.com/news_toxic_mold.asp
10-03-00 KXTV Channel 10,
Sacramento - "Elderly Man Fights Insurance Company and Wins" -
reporting on Anderson vs. Allstate court case.
10-04-00 Illinois Department of
Public Health - "Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) – What You Need to
Know!" Any mold can cause a health effect under the right conditions.
While some reports exaggerate the severity of possible health effects, it is
important to handle all molds with caution.
Testing for molds is very difficult and expensive, and it cannot determine
whether health effects will occur. Due to these uncertainties, the Illinois
Department of Public Health does not recommend testing for molds in most cases.
If you can see or smell mold, testing is not necessary; it needs to be cleaned
up.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/stachybotrys.htm
10-05-00 Sacramento Bee -
"Allstate suit nets man $18.5 million" - Thomas Anderson awarded @
$18.5 million in federal court case. Punitive damages = $18 million.
10-06-00 UPI - "Toxic mold
a growing legal issue" - Health problems in homes and workplaces. Water
intrusion, mold, lawsuits. Examples of some lawsuits.
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/10/10062000/upi_mold_32232.asp
10-12-00 FOX News -
"Lawsuits Multiply Over the Fungus Among Us" by Adrienne Mand. Toxic
mold lawsuits are spreading fast. Mold problems well known in Europe for
decades, Canada is 10-15 years ahead of
us.
http://www.rense.com/general4/fungus.htm
10-28-00 Sacramento Bee -
"Mold chasing 270 from apartments" - Deer Creek Apartments, mold,
tenants forced to move.
10-30-00 ToxLaw.com - "The
Killer Within Us: Indoor Molds & Their Toxic Effects" by Nachman
Brautbar, M.D. If suspect mold as cause for symptomatology, see a specialist.
Specialist should review possible causes, temporal relationship and biological
plausability that mold can cause these
problems.
http://hometown.aol.com/brautbar/mold.html
11-00-00 Claims magazine -
"Allstate Suit Nets Man $18.5 million" - Thomas Anderson, Federal
Court, Sacramento, $18 million punitive damage award.
11-00-00 Apartment Times -
"Mold Could Cost You Millions If You're Not Careful" By Sky Woodward
.
http://www.milesstockbridge.com/articles/moldcostmillions.htm
11-00-00 Cleaning &
Restoration magazine - "Protect Yourself From Mold Liability" by
Everette Lee Herndon, Jr. Cleaning and restoration personnel should approach
water damage claims cautiously, look for mold and protect all parties if mold
found.
http://www.leeherndon.com/MoldProt.htm
11-00-00 Insurance Journal -
"MOLD in Buildings: Creates New Frontier in Construction Defect
Litigation, Definition of Pollution" by Catheringe Tapia and Constance Parten.
Mold at center of construction defect litigation. Examples: Visalia courthouse
and Ballard case in Texas.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/html/ijweb/publications/IJTexas/t112000/moldinbldg.htm
11-10-00 Sacramento Bee -
"Mold plagues tenants, landlords" - Deer Creek Apartments, mold,
lawsuits.
11-15-00 Property Claims Forum,
Sacramento - Luncheon program on Mold. Handouts - "Mold Prevention and
Control" and "Mold: The Basics" both by Jim Holland.
11-20-00 Insurance Journal -
"MOLD in Buildings: Creates New Frontier in Construction Defect
Litigation, Definition of Pollution" By Catherine Tapia and Constance
Parten. At the center of what could become one of the fastest growing areas of
both construction defect litigation and toxic tort litigation is an extremely
common organism found in virtually every home and building. Mold.
http://www.insurancejrnl.com/html/ijweb/publications/IJTexas/t112000/moldinbldg.htm
11-24-99 Mealey's -
"Microbial Contamination Litigation"The Mold Monster" By
Alexander Robertson, IV.
http://www.rvclaw.com/ttcover.htm
11-28-00 American RE (AMRE) -
"Toxic Mold" by Marianne Sparks, Assistant Vice President, Claim
Department. M icrobiological fungi, mold and a variety of indoor air pollutants
are commonly found in buildings with water intrusion problems. . . . Because of
the frequency of hidden mold growth in buildings with a history of chronic
water intrusion, claims relating to mold/microbiological contamination have
risen dramatically in recent years in residential construction
litigation.
http://www.amre.com/content/iw/sparks_toxic.htm
12-00-00 Aerotech LABORATORIES,
Inc - Technical Bulletin 1.1 - "MYCOTOXINS" - discusses sampling,
some mycotoxins and their health effects, etc.
12-00-00 ENN - "Toxic Mold
A Growing Legal Issue" - Mold claims are on the rise. Like asbestos 30
years
ago.
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/10/10062000/upi_mold_32232.asp
12-00-00 CA Department of
Health - "Misinterpretation of Stachybotrys Serology" - Symptoms
associated with mold exposure are non-specific and vary greatly with individual
susceptibility. There are currently no validated biomarkers of exposure to
specific indoor fungi or their toxins. Stachybotrys chartarum serology tests
have no clinical application at this
time.
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/Serologyf2.htm
12-04-00 Newsweek - by Anne
Underwood, "Your Home A Hidden Health Hazard: Sneezing and Sniffling?
Maybe the Problem Isn't a Cold But Mold. It's More Dangerous Than You
Think." Newsweek, Dec. 4, 2000, at page 74.
12-08-00 "Toxic Mold
Sickens Apartment Residents; Lawsuit Filed", in Business Wire. Two former
apartment residents filed suit in Washington against the owner of the large
complex where they had lived, claiming that deadly mold growing in their
apartments made them seriously and chronically ill.
01-00-01 Claims magazine -
"Giving the Devil's Advocate His Due" by Jeff Bishop - discussion of
insurance industry, water damage, drying efforts and mold
problems.
http://www.claimsmag.com/Issues/Jan01/for.asp
01-00-01 "The 'Mold
Monster': Myth or Menace?" By John Parker Sweeney and Sheri A. Mullikin.
January 2001 issue of Mealey's Litigation Report.
http://www.milesstockbridge.com/articles/Mold%20Monster.html
01-09-01 KCRA TV, Sacramento.
"Mold Forces Families Out of Homes" - Dozens of families in Dinon in
Kaufman & Broad's homes have water seepage and mold claims and medical
problems.
01-14-01 Reno Gazette-Journal -
"Toxic mold: Reports double since 1988" by Frank X. Mullen, Jr. -
UNLV center, Ms. Stetzenbach says, investigated 72 mold cases in 1998, 92 in
1999, and 156 in 2000. Water saturated materials should be removed and
replaced.
http://www.rgj.com/news2/stories/news/979531976.php
01-14-01 Reno Gazette-Journal -
"Toxic mold: Lawyer compiles growing case file" by Frank X. Mullen,
Jr. - Attorney Bob Maddox representing many clients with construction liability
- mold cases.
01-14-01 Reno Gazette-Journal -
"Wiped out by a microbe" by Frank X. Mullen, Jr. - Describes case of
Lyons family in Sparks. Chronic mold and medical problems.
01-17-01 Property Claims Forum,
Sacramento - Luncheon lecture on mold and remediation. Presented by Jim Holland
and Chuck Thomas.
02-24-01 Insurance Journal -
"MOLD in Buildings: Creates New Frontier in Construction Defect
Litigation, Definition of Pollution" By Catheringe Tapia and Constance
Parten
02-24-01 Insurance Journal -
"Mold Claims Create a New Frontier in Constuction Defect Litigation",
By Catherine Tapia
http://www.insurancejrnl.com/html/ijweb/publications/IJWest/w100200/moldclaims.htm
03-00-01 Mealey's Litigation
Report - "Are Mold Claims Excluded From Your CGL Policy?" By Joseph
W.
Hovermill.
http://www.milesstockbridge.com/articles/moldclaims.html
03-12-01 PLRB Claims Conference
2001 - "There's a Fungus Among Us - Microbial Contamination "
03-13-01 PLRB Claims Conference
2001 - "Mold - Separating Fact From Fiction"
03-14-01 PLRB Claims Conference
2001 - "Fungus, Mold and Mildew"
03-19-01
propertyandcasualty.com - Quinley on Risk: 'Curing the risk of sick building
syndrome' By Kevin M. Quinley http://www.propertyandcasualty.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={AC99154C-1BB8-11D5-A770-00D0B7694F32}&VNETCOOKIE=NO
03-20-01 Insurer.com - Water,
fire, smoke, or mold damage? You need a certified restorer! By insure.com. If
your house suffers damage from a flood or fire, or even a burst pipe that ruins
a finished basement, you'll want to call someone who has specific training in
how to properly clean up a house, possessions, and furnishings. Such a person
is known as a certified restorer. http://www.insure.com/home/certrestorer.html
Apr-May-01 GP Solo Magazine, ABA - "MOLD: An emerging construction
defect." By Alexander Robertson, IV
http://www.rvclaw.com/emerge1.htm
05-00-01 California Lawyer -
"Think Mold; Its the next new thing in toxic tort litigation." By
Alexander Robertson, IV.
http://www.rvclaw.com/caesqthinkmold.htm
05-00-01 American Industrial
Hygiene Association - Report of Microbial Growth Task Force. This report
addresses 11 common questions about remediating microbial growth (including
molds) and worker protection during
clean-up.
http://www.aiha.org/Committees/documents/webmicrobialbook.pdf
05-00-01 Jury verdict - Ballard
v. Farmers Insurance Group - $32.1 million, even after the evidence of bodily
injury was excluded from the trial for technical reasons. The damages were:
Actual Property - $6.2 million, Mental Anguish - $5 million, Punitive Damages -
$12 million and Legal Fees - $8.9 million.
06-00-01 RIMS - Rough Notes
Magazine - The Growing Concern over Mold, Mildew and Other Fungi - Panel
discusses mold-related legal strategies, risk management and insurance
concerns.
http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmag/june01/06p104.htm
06-26-01 Mealey's Mold
Litigation Conference - "Are Mold Claims Covered Under A Homeowner's
Policy?" By Everette Lee Herndon, Jr.
http://www.leeherndon.com/MoldHO.htm
07-00-01 Independent Insurance
Agents of America (IIAA) - " The Insurance Implications of Toxic Mold
Claims" Discussion of insurance coverage of mold.
http://206.135.104.240/village/iiavu/library/Insurance/PL/HO/Articles/LibraryInsurancePLHOArticlesToxicMold.htm
08-00-01 Mealey's - Toxic Mold
Litigation: "The Asbestos of the New Millenium" By Alexander
Robertson, IV, ESQ.
http://www.rvclaw.com/toxmol1.htm
11-00-01 Best's Review -
"Mold: A Growing Problem", by Lynna Goch. Toxic mold is eating away
at homes and homeowners insurers' profits. To separate the truth from the
fiction in mold claims, insurers must educate themselves about the toxicology
and medical aspects of the
issue. http://www.bestreview.com/2001-11/cover_mold.html
11-00-01 Best's Review -
"Searching for Guidance" by Joann Selleck. The development of
standards will assist risk managers, underwriters, brokers, claim adjusters and
attorneys in addressing mold problems that they
encounter.
http://www.bestreview.com/2001-11/cover_guide.html
11-01-01 Insurancenewsnet -
Risk Management - "Beyond sick building syndrome: Mold litigation enters
the main stream" by Ann Deering, Risk Management, New YorkAlthough it affects
a broad range of concerns for risk managers, from damage claims to workers'
compensation, this frenzy has created an instant insurance industry crisis.
http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?newsid=Co:dw0e9GodGWnZuYmt
11-06-01 Insurancenewsnet - PR
Newswire - "Toxic Mold/Mould Stachybotrys Chartarum: The Next
Asbestos?" Stachybotrys Chartarum Toxic Mold. It's not exactly a household
word. But it's a household problem in United States that is giving homeowners
insurers fits.
http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?newsid=Co:TI0bWbve8Wmt
Everette Lee
Herndon, Jr., is a Claims Consultant and Expert Witness working primarily in
insurance bad faith cases. He is currently working on a number of mold related
cases nationwide. Mr. Herndon was the plaintiff’s bad faith expert in the mold
related case of Anderson v. Allstate. He has been a speaker at Mealey’s Mold
Conference on insurance coverage and mold. Mr. Herndon was an adjuster for over
25 years. He is a member of the California Bar and is based in Rancho Murieta,
Calif. Copyright 2001