Posted by Eric Anderson on Tue, Jun 15, 2010 @ 09:30 AM
I just got finished testifying in a mold lawsuit that dates back to 2002. That's right, eight years ago! As an expert witness I'm not at liberty to discuss the details of this case, but I can tell you there are several insurance companies involved, along with a homeowner who just wants to move back into her home.
So what happens when you find mold damage in your home that either exceeds your insurance coverage or is not covered at all? If you can't afford to properly remove the mold, what are your options. Could someone else be held responsible for your mold problem?
In the lawsuit I recently testified in, nobody is willing to take responsibility for the cause of mold in the house. It wasn't the owner's fault. It wasn't the builder's fault. It wasn't the insurance company's fault. It wasn't the landscaper's fault. But the damage is extensive and somebody has to pay to remove it. But who?
So 8 years later, the homeowner and all of the other parties sit before a judge and jury awaiting an answer.
So, who wins? No one but the attorneys. Eight years and tens of thousands of dollars later, the house is still full of nasty mold, the cause of mold has not been established, and the homeowner is still out of her home.
My simple advice is don't let a mold problem go this far. If you have a chronic moisture problem, get the cause of mold under control with adequate dehumidification and ventilation. If you have a small mold problem, address it in the early stages before it gets out of control. If you have an odor problem and suspect mold, have it checked out by a mold professional. Many minor mold problems can be solved with little expense and minimal effort if they are addressed early.
The photos are from my most recent visit to this house.
Posted by George Salter on Thu, Oct 08, 2009 @ 09:09 AM
Enviro-Clean recieved a call from a homeowner who had discovered black mold growing and spreading throughout her house. Upon inspecting the home, Eric Anderson found
extensive mold growth throughout the kitchen and dining area, bathroom,
and the stairwell leading to the second floor. Upon further examination
he found black mold growing behind vinyl wallpaper in the
finished basement, as well as in the children's toy closet. It was
apparent that the mold had migrated from the basement area to other
parts of the house following primary traffic patterns.
In conversations 
with the homeowner Eric learned that there had been a
flood in the basement approximately 1 ½ to 2 years earlier. The
homeowner submitted a claim to her insurance carrier, and received a
$2,000 settlement. However, she opted to dry the wet area herself with
a wet vac rather than hire a professional cleaning company.
Eric suggested that the homeowner call her insurance carrier
regarding the mold problem, which she did. The insurance carrier
brought in an environmental engineer who, after inspecting the
premises, confirmed Enviro-Clean's findings.
Enviro-Clean was hired to remove the mold from the house which was
done successfully for a total cost of $32,455. Additionally, the
insurance company paid the homeowner's contractor $107,000 for
follow-up repairs. (This was prior to the insurance company limiting mold coverage to $10,000.)
The moral of the story? Proper and thorough drying at the time of
the flood would have saved the homeowner a great deal of anxiety and
inconvenience, and would have saved the insurance carrier almost
$140,000.