Re: Fwd: Ed McMahon - When your family loses its health and your home (to mold)

[Guest guest]

,

Just recieved the same news this morning. I sent out a letter to Ed today. He is part of my family clan at www.clancian-carroll.com . It just sickened me to hear the news, although I now know they aren't selective in who they mistreat and lie to. (insurors) (contractors). I still hope you and I can get together sometime soon.

This is so out of hand. I have gotten hundreds of letters. Always the same foul treatment to vicitms by builders, contractors and insurors. Sounds like they are acting out the Ricco law to me. Something must be done. I intend to organize a petition to congress over the next few weeks.

Carroll-Bower, NTMC and NTMF, Pres. Founder

www.geocities.com/marmbe12.NTMC.html

NSeats@... wrote: You probably have far too much material to be able to absorb, but this just came out today. At least you will have it for information. > ATTACHMENT part 2 message/rfc822 Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 11:02:08 -0500Subject: Ed McMahon - When your family loses its health and your home (tomold)From: imd "9,090"

Ed McMahon Sues Over Mold in HouseMaybe he can do a fundraiser for us....Courts: Entertainer seeks $20 million from insurer, alleging he was sickenedby substance after botched repair.By ANN O'NEILLLA TIMES STAFF WRITERApril 10 2002Entertainer Ed McMahon is suing his insurance company for more than $20million, alleging that he was sickened by toxic mold that spread through hisBeverly Hills house after contractors cleaning up water damage from a brokenpipe botched the job.McMahon and his wife, Pamela, became ill from the mold, as did members oftheir household staff, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Courtsuit. The McMahons also blame the mold for the death of the family dog,Muffin.Their suit, the latest of many in recent years over toxic mold, was filedlate Monday against American Equity Insurance Co., a pair of insuranceadjusters and several environmental cleanup contractors. It seeks monetarydamages for alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentionalinflictionof emotional distress. A spokeswoman for the insurance company declined tocomment.The trouble began in late July, when a pipe broke in the couple'ssix-bedroomMediterranean-style house, which was filled with memorabilia from EdMcMahon's long television career. The den was flooded. A month later, moldwas discovered in the den.The McMahons charge in court papers that they were assured they were safeandcould remain in the house during the cleanup, even as the mold spreadthroughthe heating and air conditioning ducts to their bedroom. It invaded theclosets, contaminating their clothes. It also was found under the Jacuzzi inthe master bathroom.The McMahons questioned the contractors' cleanup methods, including simplypainting over the mold. As the job became more expensive and complex, theinsurance company and its contractors abandoned it, the suit charges."They covered it until they realized how expensive it was, and then theycovered up," said McMahon lawyer Allan Browne. "What they did was spread themold by allowing it to go into the air conditioning and heating ducts. Whenthey screwed up, they started saying, 'Maybe we're not responsible for thisjob.'""When your family loses its health and your home is a wasteland, that's acolossal disaster," McMahon said Tuesday.The McMahons' 8,000-square-foot house overlooking Coldwater Canyon standsgutted as the entertainer, his insurance company and the environmentalcleanup contractors argue over who should pay to finish the cleanup,according to court papers. The McMahons are renting a $23,000-a-month houseand, Browne said, have no idea where their insurance company has storedtheirclothing, furniture, artwork and memorabilia."Hopefully, it's safe, but we don't know where it is," Browne said.Awareness of toxic mold has increased in recent years because of a spate oflawsuits. Among the most prominent litigants is Brockovich, whodiscovered mold in the house she bought when the story of her legal crusadeon behalf of pollution victims was turned into a movie starring .In response to the increased litigation, insurance rates have spiked in somestates. Insurers in some areas have stopped writing policies or offer onlybare-bones ones that don't cover mold problems.In June, for example, Farmers Insurance Group lost a $32-million lawsuitfiled by a Texas family that claimed toxic mold in their home caused severehealth problems. The jury found that the insurer failed to pay for neededrepairs for a water leak, which allowed mold to grow rampant in the house,making it uninhabitable.In California, Gov. Gray signed the 2001 Toxic Mold Disclosure Act,which went into effect in January. The law requires anyone selling, leasingor transferring property to disclose any potentially dangerous mold problem."The mold that grew in this case was the poisonous variety, stachybotryschartarum," Browne said. "This is the most dangerous mold of all. It cancause death in people who are susceptible to respiratory ailments."The McMahons' dog, a mutt who resembled a sheep dog, was in perfect healthuntil she suddenly became sick at about the same time the mold wasdiscovered, Browne said. "She was a sweetheart of a dog, incredibly smart,asfrisky as you can imagine," the lawyer said. "All of a sudden she got thisterrible respiratory ailment, and they had to put her down," Browne said.And then, McMahon's and his wife's health began to suffer.McMahon, best known as the affable sidekick to talk show host ny Carson,spent most of the fall coughing, sneezing and congested. "Nobody couldfigureout why he was unable to breathe," Browne said. He spent four months onantibiotics and had to cancel several speaking engagements. Finally, hisdoctor ordered him out of the house and his health improved.