January 13, 2003
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Mold Stories
-- Businesses Promise Protection Against Mold-Causing Leaks - No Evidence
Pointing To System's Effectiveness (KXAS, TX - January 12, 2003)
-- Court reverses mold award. Insurer ruled not liable for punitive damages; But
firm mishandled Texas claim; Impact unclear in Md., where exclusion is sought
(Baltimore Sun, MD, January 12, 2003)
-- Unwelcome visitors: Got mold? (Everett Herald, WA, January 12, 2003)
-- Mold takes toll on homes, lives - Seminary woman ready to move (Hattiesburg
American, MS, January 12, 2003)
-- Consumer advocates call for more regulation (San Antonio Express, TX, January
11, 2003)
-- Cut insurance rates and fiscal crunch could worsen (Miami Herald, FL, January
10, 2003)
-- Mealey's Mold Litigation Conference - February 3 and 4, 2003, La Jolla,
California
-- Urban Legend Lawsuits - Los Angeles resident did not file suit for being hurt
while stealing hubcaps, but University of Idaho student did sue for "mooning"
injury
-- The Law Offices of Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill, APC
After the most amazing Santa Ana winds, Southern California has been
beautiful the last week or so. It's a great time for folks to open windows and
get some fresh air to help alleviate some of those mold problems.
Businesses Promise Protection Against Mold-Causing Leaks - No Evidence
Pointing To System's Effectiveness (KXAS, TX - January 12, 2003)
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DALLAS -- Some homeowners think mold is a health danger, and insurance companies
consider it a threat to their profits. But David Swift sees a business
opportunity.
Swift runs one of a handful of companies that have sprung up to sell systems
that detect household leaks and then automatically shut off main water valves.
Click here for: Businesses Promise Protection Against Mold-Causing Leaks - No
Evidence Pointing To System's Effectiveness (KXAS, TX - January 12, 2003)
Court reverses mold award. Insurer ruled not liable for punitive damages;
But firm mishandled Texas claim; Impact unclear in Md., where exclusion is
sought (Baltimore Sun, MD, January 12, 2003)
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A possible shift in the mold-litigation movement emerged last month when the
Texas Court of Appeals partially reversed a multimillion-dollar verdict for
members of a family who said their insurance company's failure to act on a claim
led to complete mold infestation of their 22-room estate.
In Maryland, where the General Assembly began its 2003 legislative session
last week, the timing of the Texas decision could prove an asset to the hundreds
of insurers who have been lobbying the state's insurance administration for an
exclusion of mold coverage.
Click here for: Court reverses mold award. Insurer ruled not liable for punitive
damages; But firm mishandled Texas claim; Impact unclear in Md., where exclusion
is sought (Baltimore Sun, MD, January 12, 2003)
Unwelcome visitors: Got mold? (Everett Herald, WA, January 12, 2003)
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You may have an unwelcome visitor in your home. And we're not talking about one
of the in-laws.
We're talking about mold.
Click here for: Unwelcome visitors: Got mold? (Everett Herald, WA, January 12,
2003)
Mold takes toll on homes, lives - Seminary woman ready to move
(Hattiesburg American, MS, January 12, 2003)
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SEMINARY - Dot Williams' life began to fall apart shortly after her living room
floor collapsed.
It was April 17, 2001, she recalled, when a worker from her son-in-law's
construction company crawled under her 30-year-old home and discovered its beams
were infested with mold that had feasted on her home.
Click here for: Mold takes toll on homes, lives - Seminary woman ready to move
(Hattiesburg American, MS, January 12, 2003)
Consumer advocates call for more regulation (San Antonio Express, TX,
January 11, 2003)
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After a decade of allowing some insurance companies to skirt price regulations,
the 78th Texas Legislature may be primed to close loopholes in the insurance
codes.
Consumer advocates hope there is finally sufficient pressure to get the
Legislature to require that all insurance companies - including the unregulated
Lloyds companies and "county mutual" companies that sell most home and auto
insurance policies - get Department of Insurance approval before changing their
rates.
Click here for: Consumer advocates call for more regulation (San Antonio
Express, TX, January 11, 2003)
Cut insurance rates and fiscal crunch could worsen (Miami Herald, FL,
January 10, 2003)
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AUSTIN - High insurance rates and a looming budget shortfall - two of the
biggest issues facing the Legislature - are linked, and that creates a dilemma
for lawmakers.
The Legislature is under pressure to reduce insurance rates, but the state
also raises money from taxes on premiums, and rate cuts would mean less money
for a state that is already at least $5 billion in the hole.
Click here for: Cut insurance rates and fiscal crunch could worsen (Miami
Herald, FL, January 10, 2003)
Mealey's Mold Litigation Conference - February 3 and 4, 2003, La Jolla,
California
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Among other topics: Mold Research: Expectations from ongoing microbial research
(domestic and international). Experts from the United States and Finland will
discuss the status of the various studies ongoing, preliminary results together
with whether these studies will meet peer review and other criteria for
admissibility.
Hot coverage issues: Critical cases and laws which will impact the insurer
and policyholder.
Click here for Mealeys Mold Conference
Urban Legend Lawsuits - Los Angeles resident did not file suit for being hurt
while stealing hubcaps, but University of Idaho student did sue for "mooning"
injury
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My thanks to Bud George of Southern California remediation contractor HarBro for
sending me this link to a page featuring "urban legend" lawsuits. HarBro can be
reached at 800-266-5677.
This site debunks some rumored lawsuits and confirms others.
Click here for: Urban Legend Lawsuits - Los Angeles resident did not file suit
for being hurt while stealing hubcaps, but University of Idaho student did sue
for "mooning" injury
Hyde Mulvihill APC
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Los Angeles Office: (626) 358-7471 Fax: (626) 358-2894
