Roseville family says illnesses linked to mold

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Roseville family says illnesses linked to mold

By Lee, Macomb Daily Staff Writer January 28, 2002

Macomb Daily photo by Ray J. Skowronek

Ronita Manning and her two sons, Niemi, 15, and Niemi, 13,

have battled numerous ailments, many of which have been traced to toxic

mold, for years.

Ronita Manning estimates, between her two teen-age sons, they have been to

the doctor more than 100 times in the past eight years.

" We were constantly there it seems like, " the Roseville woman said.

The boys often complained of fatigue, muscle pain, dizziness, nose bleeds

and headaches -- nothing more than common childhood ailments.

" I thought they were sick a lot, but the doctor couldn't find anything

causing it, " Manning said.

Manning, who at the time lived in an apartment at Village Green on Lake St.

Clair in on Township, then got the break she was looking for. One

night, while watching a television news report on black mold, a light

switched on in her head.

" The symptoms they were reporting were the same symptoms my kids had, " she

said. " It was like I just knew all at once. I asked the doctor if it could

be because of mold and he said yes. "

On April 30, 2001, Manning's life changed when Sanit-Air Inc. of Troy came

in to take a look at the apartment she and her boys had resided in for the

past eight years.

" I knew something was wrong when they walked in and immediately went back

out and got HAZMAT (hazardous material) suits, " Manning said.

Sanit-Air Inc. found traces of toxigenic mold -- including stacybotrys,

penicillium and aspergillus -- in almost every room of her home. That very

evening, Manning packed up all her belongings and her sons, and left.

Now, Manning is suing Village Green Management Company for in excess of

$25,000 for " negligence. "

Van Der Waerden, who is listed as the attorney for Village Green

on court papers, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. However,

in additional court papers, attorneys for Kaufman and Payton of Farmington

Hills deny that there was any negligence on the part of Village Green.

Manning claims she moved into Village Green on Lake St. Clair in 1993 and

didn't have any major problems with the facility until 1996 when a leak

developed in the ceiling of her bathroom and she asked for it to be

repaired.

" I called several times and all they really did was paint over the spot, "

she said.

Other problems began developing in Manning's home as well, including a hole

that developed in the bathroom wall and a portion of cement in her opening

walkway that she claims didn't dry for more than two years.

In a letter dated March 28, 2001 -- approximately one month before Manning

moved out of her apartment -- Sharisse L. Myren, senior area director for

Village Green Companies wrote that maintenance teams could make repairs by

stain killing, repairing a portion of the dry wall in the bathroom and

painting the entire bathroom.

She also offered Manning the following options:

A transfer to another apartment on site.

Testing of the apartment for the presence of black mold by an outside

contractor.

" I knew there was mold in there so I wanted someone to come in and test for

it, " Manning said.

Since the day Manning packed up everything she owned -- not to be able to

even touch it again -- her life has drastically changed.

While everyone, including her sons, , 15, and , 13, are

feeling somewhat better, not everyone's symptoms have gone completely away.

Manning herself takes six different forms of medication for asthma and lost

the business she used to run.

" I'm glad my sons are feeling better, " she said. " I think, though, that we

all might have some sort of long term damage. I have constant headaches and

never feel quite right. "

The boys, however, have seen marked improvement in both their health and

education. Both have seen a decrease in headaches and nosebleeds and an

increase in grade point averages, their mother said.

" I'm glad I don't have to go through the fear of watching my sons get bloody

noses and pass out, but I wish I we had our stuff back and I wish I knew for

certain if there would ... be any long-term side effects, " she said.

" I just want people to be aware of what black mold can do, " she continued.

" I never even had a clue. "

Manning's attorney, Jo Robin of Farmington Hills, said Manning is

lucky she got out when she did.

" Because it's such a new thing, most people aren't up to date on the hazards

of toxigenic molds, " she said. " The side effects can be very, very damaging

and (Manning) is doing this partially because she wants to make people aware

of just what mold can do. "

©The Macomb Daily 2002