Re: Advocate lobbies for toxic mold protection act

[Guest guest]

If anyone know how to contact Ms Morelli in this story, please have her

email me at john.cobarruvias@.... We might be able to get her access to

the Governors office in Florida.

--

R. Cobarruvias

HomeOwners for Better Building

Dedicated to assisting homeowners with construction defects

www.hobb.org

281-486-5203

> Message: 14

> Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 19:25:43 -0500

> From: " Barbara Herskovitz " <bherk@...>

> Subject: Advocate lobbies for toxic mold protection act

>

> http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/577/public/news274520.html

>

> Woman works to break the mold

> Advocate lobbies for toxic mold protection act

> 03/24/02

> Jan Witherspoon

>

> Morelli is drawing a line in the sand.

>

> She's sick, her family is sick and they lost their home and everything in it

> because of toxic mold poisoning.

>

> Morelli, however, is not one to back down.

>

> Although her own health is at risk and she has already spent thousands of

> dollars on medical tests, she is embarking on a battle to bring the issue of

> toxic mold poisoning to the attention of public officials and Florida's

> insurance companies.

>

> Morelli is proposing a toxic mold protection act, and has tried to get an

> appointment with Gov. Jeb Bush and Commissioner of Insurance Tom Gallagher.

> She has been unsuccessful in her efforts so far, and is becoming frustrated.

>

> This single mother of three is becoming an advocate.

>

> " I'm not going to give up, " said Morelli, who is a Realtor.

>

> " In real estate we have to disclose certain things. Insurance companies

> should offer this as an extra option instead of (offering) something like

> loss from the eruption of a volcano or from the weight of ice, snow or

> sleet. It should be relevant to where people live. "

>

> Morelli does have homeowner's insurance and she reported the condition of

> her house to make a claim. The company sent a claims adjuster, who walked

> through the house and said he didn't see any signs of mold but said he could

> smell it, Morelli said.

>

> " I told him I just know we're sick and we don't know why, " she said. " He

> told me I had a mold exclusion clause in the policy. He sent a follow-up

> letter and copy of the policy about the mold exclusion. That was it. "

>

> That began Morelli's search for more information about mold and insurance

> claims. She searched the Internet and found the Florida Department of

> Insurance.

>

> She called the department and told her story.

>

> " About three days later the insurance company called me, " she said. " They

> told me they wanted to do an investigation and asked if they could send a

> civil engineer and a restoration crew to my home. "

>

> They inspected the house on Oct. 3.

>

> Morelli said she was then told the insurance company would pay the rent in

> her new apartment while they were completing the investigation.

>

> " They have been paying my rent since November 20, 2001, " she said.

>

> A toxicologist's test results showed high levels of three toxic molds:

> stachybotrys, aspergillius niger and penicillium.

>

> Those tests cost Morelli $1,000.

>

> The toxicologist told her not to move back into the house.

>

> Her family had to leave all their personal belongings behind. Medical

> treatment for her and her three children has been postponed because of lack

> of money.

>

> Months later, Morelli is still in limbo.

>

> She doesn't know where her insurance claim stands.

>

> The issue of insurance coverage has been in the news in Texas, where a

> family was awarded $32 million in a landmark jury verdict. The Texas

> insurance commissioner recently restructured residential property policy

> coverage due to the large number of mold-related claims.

>

> Since Morelli made her situation public, she has heard from many people who

> are concerned about their own homes and health. She has also sponsored a

> public meeting where two experts spoke about mold and toxic mold, and she is

> gathering signatures on her petition.

>

> " I've tried to get an appointment with the governor, and I'll camp out in

> front of his house if I have to, " she said of the legislation she is

> proposing. " I've lost everything; I have nothing to lose. But it's not just

> for me - it may not help us, but maybe it will help others. "

>

>