video Moldy Conditions Led To Brain Damage For 12YO Girl

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PHA Settles Mold Lawsuit for $9.5M

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Moldy Conditions Led To Brain Damage For 12YO Girl

After years of legal wrangling, the Philadelphia Housing Authority settled

Monday morning with a former Section 8 tenant whose daughter was left with brain

damage – the result of living with mold.

Fox 29's Joyce brings you the story of Ebony Gage. She was a typical

12-year old. She developed asthma. Her attacks worsened. She now has profound

brain damage. She cannot walk or talk and needs 24-hour care. Her family

claims that the PHA ignored years of pleading to fix the hazardous, moldy

conditions in their house. Her mother thinks it all could have been avoided.

Just before opening statements in court today, PHA agreed to pay more than $9.5

million to her family. As Joyce reported, the PHA admits no wrongdoing in this

case. They, for the most part, blame the Section 8 property owner and management

company.

PHA's statement reads in part, " Our hearts go out to the victim…We hope that the

settlements will serve as strong reminders to all landlords on the program that

they must responsibly care for units they own and manage. "

Ebony's attorney, Trunk added that after continuing top fail inspections

for year and not repairing the damage the final insult was PHA forcing the

family to give 30 days notice before they could move.

It was during those 30 days that Ebony had that terrible asthma attack.

The property landlord and management company agreed to pay at least $2 million

for their part.

The settlement will help Ebony' mother pay for the mounting medical bills that

are already in the millions, but she says that Ebony will never be the same

girl.