Toxic Mold



Mold is a form of fungus. It is a living organism that requires food to sustain it. Among other things, it feeds on organic material found in homes and buildings such as the wood and paper. Mold proliferates in moist, warm environments. There are hundreds of species of mold found in the United States that are not harmful to humans. However, certain molds can cause a variety of illnesses in humans. Three molds which are known to be harmful to humans are: Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys chartarum. These forms are commonly known as toxic molds. Molds release spores that are tiny bacteria less than 4 microns in size. When disturbed, toxic molds release mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are transmitted to humans via inhalation and skin contact. A person can inhale over one-half million spores per minute without knowing it. Many experts agree that prolonged exposure to toxic mold can cause serious health problems.

If you or someone in your family has suffered physical illness or property damage due to mold, we urge you to carefully consider all of your options. In order to recover monetary damages for mold-related property or personal injury, you should document the mold problems. We first recommend that you document the problems with notes, photographs, and medical records if applicable. Mold victims who have suffered property damage or personal injury as a result of mold exposure may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the party at fault for any construction related defect, or a lawsuit to recover benefits from a homeowner's, renter's or landlord's liability insurance policy. Each claim must be assessed on a case by case basis.

Additionally, claims for toxic mold are not limited to personal injury or property damage in the single family residence. Often public and private buildings are contaminated with toxic molds. Hotels, office buildings, schools, hospitals, restaurants and even large manufacturing facilities have been know to be stricken by mold infiltration. Almost any building in which the conditions are ripe for mold growth may have some degree of toxic mold in the walls, ceilings, air handlers, or other warm moist environments.

Over the years, it has been our experience that all of the potentially responsible parties will blame each other, while insurance carriers deny coverage rather than resolve the situation. Civil litigation, or filing a lawsuit, may be a property owners best option. In litigation, the parties are forced to work toward resolution of your case or face the possibility of explaining their actions to twelve jurors. We are confident that the lawyers of Lewis & Roberts have the experience and knowledge to present to a jury both the property damage and personal injury aspects of lawsuits dealing with toxic mold.