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Lawsuits grow as moulds multiply: Homeowners are seeking damages in Canada and the U.S. as moulds bring host of health problems

Mucalov, J. and G. Mucalov abstract:, Mucalov, J. and Mucalov, G., Mucalov, J. and Mucalov, G.
2002
The Vancouver Sun; Vancouver, B.C


Mucalov, J. and G. Mucalov abstract:, Mucalov, J. and Mucalov, G., Mucalov, J. and Mucalov, G., (2002), "Lawsuits grow as moulds multiply: Homeowners are seeking damages in Canada and the U.S. as moulds bring host of health problems", The Vancouver Sun; Vancouver, B.C.
Abstract:

In one notorious case, a Texas insurer was ordered to pay $32 million US for failing to properly fix a family's toxic mould problem. As a result of a plumbing leak, mould had grown in the hardwood floors of their 22-room dream home, causing the mother and three-year-old son to cough up blood and making the father so sick he had to leave his job as an investment banker.

A $2-billion Cdn lawsuit was recently started against the Dufferin Peel Catholic district school board outside of Toronto, claiming that school children were getting sick from mould exposure in portable classrooms. More suits are likely to follow with the closure of the historic Alberta Court of Appeal building in Calgary after toxic mould was found, leading to respiratory problems among judges and staff.

If you're unlucky enough to suffer a mould infestation, your losses can be quite substantial. Quite apart from the health problems and any loss of income that may cause, there are potentially hefty repair and clean-up costs (improper handling can make a mould problem worse, so it's sometimes cheaper and more effective to demolish a building and rebuild it completely rather than trying to decontaminate it).


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