$3.3 million awarded to woman sickened by mold

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Michael Kiefer - May. 2, 2009

The Arizona Republic

A Maricopa County Superior Court jury has awarded $3.3 million to a Scottsdale woman who was sickened and permanently disabled by a mold infestation in her apartment building.

Robin Minium was a project manager for American Express and worked out of her upscale apartment near Scottsdale and Bell roads. She had lived there since 2000.

According to court documents, her health deteriorated significantly by 2002, and as she got sicker, she spent more time in her apartment.

The building was rife with several types of toxic molds, possibly as a result of pipes that were not properly connected and drained, according to her court pleadings.

She sued the apartment complex for failing to maintain the premises in a condition fit for human occupation.

Minium learned about the mold infestation from her neighbors, and her doctors told her that her illness was consistent with toxic mold exposure, so she left the apartment and moved into a hotel.

Then the apartment managers conducted tests, determined the extent of the infestation and performed remediation on the affected apartments.

Minium did not return, and she claimed that she was never able to recover personal belongings left in the apartment when she moved out, including family heirlooms. And she claimed her health was permanently impaired.

"She is disabled from any work and will be for the rest of her life," said her attorney, Andrea Watters.

Watters filed suit in Minium's behalf in August 2004 against the apartment complex, Pillar at Scottsdale LLC, and its parent company, Pillar Communities LLC.

Watters said that Minium, 47, suffered significant permanent hair loss and a neuro-cognitive disorder that does not affect her long-term memory but keeps her from performing basic day-to-day functions such as balancing a checkbook or remembering where she put her car keys.

Over the course of the trial, which began April 14, attorneys and experts for Pillar at Scottsdale argued that mold contamination could not have such lasting health effects.

But the jury sided with Minium, and on April 22 returned a verdict in her favor.

Kendall Steele, the attorney who represented Pillar, said, "We disagree with the result, and as far as I know, we will be strenuously challenging the verdict." The attorney who will be handling the appeal could not be reached Friday.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsd...02mold0502.html

[Nagishkaw 510]

I guess she won't be applying for SS disability.

[tallcoolone 102]

This is the Famous Black Mold.

Been around for millions of years.

People have found a way to make money off it.............

[fozzie 41]

I guess she won't be applying for SS disability.

I would.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Not with that kind of dough. She'll never get it.

[Caladan 19]

Toxic mold nearly killed my grandmother-in-law. In her case, the problem was that a pipe burst a few years ago had left mold inside the heating ducts, which meant she had an illness she couldn't kick until her sons thought to check the ventilation system. They tore down most of the house to get it out.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the verdict and the amount rests on whether the apartment building knew about the mold and didn't take adequate measures to rid the building of the mold.

[tallcoolone 102]

I think the verdict and the amount rests on whether the apartment building knew about the mold and didn't take adequate measures to rid the building of the mold.

Probably Correct.

I did Black Mold Remedation for many years.

I can eat the stuff and it doesn't bother me. It's a natural occuring fungus that has been around for millions of years.

If you go outside and do an air sample, you will find black mold in the mold count.

Very few people are affected by it. Usually the very young or very old or people.