Mold in Atlanta

[Guest guest]

I am looking for any recommendations on how to resolve this in the

best possible way. Any information on local legal assistance would

be extremely helpful.

I found dark green and black mold in my apartment (master bedroom

closet) approxomately 3 months ago and requested that it be cleaned

up (after I took a sample). The maintenance person merely wiped it

off the wall with a rag, successfully introducing mass quantities of

spores into the air. The mold returned, I took a second sample, and

this time the maintenance person used something that smelled of

bleach to clean it off the wall. I had them come back a third time

to check behind the wall. They cut a 2 inch square out of the

drywall 18 inches to the side and 12 inches above where the mold

was. They did not seem to interested in trying to find anything

further and claim the mold is gone.

My favorite maintenance and leasing office quotes:

" It's mildew, not mold "

" Don't worry, this isn't black mold "

" Look, the drywall is powdery, there can't be any mold "

" Lots of adults develop asthma "

" It's probably just the pollen outside "

" We test all of the mold that we find " (denied by maintenance)

I took them a copy of the mold analysys (Alternaria and

Cladosporium, both very high concentrations) and they immediately

offered to open up a second unit for my family to live in until we

can move in three weeks. (we are breaking the lease)

I spent two hours with a coworker moving the basics, the bed, the

crib, the couch, etc. last Friday night. That night I could not

breathe and I finally went to the emergency room Saturday morning.

The doctor was surprised I had not come in earlier. It took a

steroid shot and a round on some " breathing machine " before I could

breathe semi-normally again. The doctor diagnosed me with Reactive

Airway Disease and Chronic Sinusitis. She basically told me I have

asthma and prescribed me an inhaler (Albuterol?) and some heavy

antibiotics. My wife received an identical diagnosis yesterday and

identical medication. I have not yet identified whether my

gastrointestinal problems are mold related.

Our daughter does not seem to be feeling the effects as badly as us,

but we are worried about the long term. We continue to have these

symptoms even after moving out and worry that our furniture and

mattress may be contaminated.

I can not return to the old unit to complete packing so I am forced

to hire movers to pack and move our items to the temporary

apartment, then hire them again to move to the new location.

I am asking the apartment management to waive rent for this month

and assist with the moving costs. I have not received their final

answer on that issue.

The microbiologist who performed the analysis told me she had " never

seen Altneraria like that before. " She is not officially allowed to

provide any details beyond identifying the types of mold and the

amounts so that is as much as I can get out of her.