Former DJ's attorney files appeal for new mold claim hearing

September 12, 2008

September 12, 2008

Frederick News Post - Frederick,MD*

By Ed Waters Jr.

News-Post Staff

StoryID=80068

Former local radio personality West may get another hearing on

her claim that she became ill from exposure to mold at the station.

Lanier, West's attorney, said he filed Sept. 5 to appeal for

another hearing before the land Workers Compensation Commission.

The commission said in an Aug. 21 decision that the nature of West's

claims were not inherent to her job as a disc jockey at WFRE.

Lanier said while the commission said West's health problems were

not inherent to her job, it did not say she did not have a disease.

" It is not an occupational disease by statute, " Lanier said from his

Baltimore office. " But we have filed for a re-hearing to present

more legal issues that say it is inherent. "

Lanier said the commission can decide to re-hear the case, deny it

or overrule its initial decision.

" Another option is appealing it to Circuit Court, " Lanier said.

Bert Randall, attorney for the radio station, said he was unable to

comment on the appeal.

West, who had worked at WFRE from 1992 until February, said she saw

evidence of mold at the radio station on Grove Hill Road. She said

exposure led to headaches, dizziness, sinus problems and other

physical ailments, and that she had been seen by several doctors.

At the Aug. 1 hearing, West claimed she was forced to leave the

station because the mold affected her health.

Doug Hillard, general manager of the station, said he had been with

WFRE for 10 years and no other employees had expressed similar

problems during that time.

He said mold was found in a vent in a conference room created during

a renovation project, and in the basement of another building used

infrequently by the station's engineers.

He said the basement had water damage on three occasions during his

time at the station that had been cleaned up each time.

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