Simple solution to mould woes

[Guest guest]

Simple solution to mould woes

Feedback

http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/10513.cfm

By Letters to the editor - Business Edge

Published: 09/15/2005 - Vol. 1, No. 18

Re: Property owners increasingly wary of mould, Business Edge, Aug.

18.

In the case in Texas where the homeowner was awarded $32 million (a

jury's award of $32 million US to Melinda Ballard in 2001 in a suit

against her insurance company over mould in her 22-room mansion was

reduced to $4 million in 2002 by the Texas Court of Appeals; the

matter was resolved with a confidential settlement in 2004, prior to

being heard by the Texas Supreme Court), none of the award was for

personal injury, it was for actual damages to a very expensive

property, for which the homeowner had bought insurance.

Also, the solution to not getting sued for mould in the construction

and insurance industries is simple, yet it has escaped these

industries in the U.S. - do the job right. Build houses to keep the

rain out, honour contracts, etc. It is when builders build leaky

houses and insurance companies stall or deny valid claims, that

suits occur.

The industries' solution is to tell consumers to sign one-sided

contracts or don't own a home. I hope Canada doesn't make the same

mistake.

- Schnackel, Edmond, Okla.