Video: Virginia Family received a $4.7M jury verdict. Mold in new construction

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Video, Virginia family that received a jury verdict of $4.7M.

The Washington Post is running an article on them this Sunday.

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35 year-old Meng was diagnosed with neurotoxicity that she says was

caused by a lethal combination of microscopic mold growing behind the walls of

their home.

Tisha

FOX 5 Reporter

Loudoun County, Va. --

The Meng family spent nearly a million dollars to build what they thought

would be their dream home. But, less than two months after moving in, 35

year-old Meng started to have such severe migraines and dizziness, she

ended

up in the hospital.

" They thought I had a brain tumor or adrenal gland cancer,†she says. “

There were many things they tested. They could see I was so sick, but they

couldn't figure it out.

The family dog suddenly died. Her younger daughter started having

uncontrollable nose bleeds while the rest of the family developed asthma.

Doctors finally diagnosed with neurotoxicity. The Mengs say her body

was full of poison, caused by a potentially-lethal combination of microscopic

mold growing behind the walls of their home.

’s husband says, “The challenge is that it was a new home. It’s

the last thing you’re thinking about. You look at the walls, the walls are

white. You don't see any obvious water stains. "

The Meng’s lawyer, Wise, says The Drees Company didn’t wait for wet

timbers in the frame of the house to dry after it rained.

" You want to make sure the wood isn't still wet,†Wise says. “They put in

the drywall and insulation over wet wood and all the experts agree, if you

cover up the wet wood, its going to allow the mold to grow. "

The Mengs says the result was worse than a fire because everything they

owned became contaminated and had to be destroyed. They sued The Drees Company,

which did not respond for a request for comment on this story.

In late December, a judge ordered The Drees Company to pay the Mengs $4.75

million. Wise says he expects the company to appeal the case.

The family hopes to use the money to buy a new home and pay off their

medical bills.

" You know, it’s a huge amount of money,†says. “We basically want

to

restart our lives, we lost our home, we lost our health, I'll never be well

again and neither will my daughter. "

Sharon

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