From Overlawyered's Website

April 27, 2002

from the anti-litigation website comes:

April 25 -- Mold sweepstakes: You May Already Be a Winner. " Entertainer Ed

McMahon is suing his insurance company for more than $20 million, alleging

that he was sickened by toxic mold that spread through his Beverly Hills

house after contractors cleaning up water damage from a broken pipe botched

the job. " ( " Ed McMahon sues over mold, says dog died " , Los Angeles Times/

AZCentral.com, Apr. 9). Buyers of homeowners' insurance may wind up among

the losers: " State Farm, the largest insurer in California representing 22

percent of the market, decided last week that it would no longer write new

homeowner policies in the state starting May 1. While that's partly due to

past losses, it's also in large part due to the rising cost of mold-related

claims. ... In Texas, which has had the most claims increases [over mold] in

the nation, rates have already nearly doubled for many homeowners. "

(Deborah Lohse, " Mold becomes toxic issue to homeowners, insurers " , San

Mercury News, Apr. 23). Mold claims " could be the next asbestos. Yes,

there's a bit of difference: Asbestos fibers are known to cause disease and

death. Whether household mold can do so is, to put it charitably, a matter

of debate. But that hasn't slowed the litigation over mold. " ( Ellen

Egan, " The Fungus that Ate Sacramento, " Forbes, Jan. 21).

TEXAS MOLD LINKFEST: " Insurers estimate they paid out $670 million for

mold-related property damage in Texas in 2001, more than double the total in

1999. " (Egan, Forbes, link above). See (all links 2001:) Sullum,

" Fungi phobia " , TownHall.com, Aug. 21 (the wonderfully named Dripping

Springs case); Bill Summers, " Mold cases could have a rotten effect " , San

Express News, Oct. 18, reprinted at Texans for Lawsuit Reform;

Berger, " Mold Fears Overblown, Experts Say " , Houston Chronicle, July 12;

CALA Houston links; Buggs, " Tackling Questions on Mold Coverage " ,

Houston Chronicle, Nov. 18; W. Gardner Selby, San Express News,

" Coverage cut under review " , Nov. 13. (DURABLE LINK)

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