Lawsuits claim Tomlinson mold caused illness (Fairfield)

[Guest guest]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=3853658 & BRD=1653 & PAG=461 & dept_id=1

2717 & rfi=6

Lawsuits claim Tomlinson mold caused illness

By:Ciarmiello, Staff reporter April 15, 2002

A second Tomlinson Middle School employee filed a worker's compensation

claim against the Board of Education recently, alleging that he has

experienced illnesses related to toxic mold in the town's oldest school

building.

The claim from TMS School Psychologist Geller was filed in the Town

Clerk's Office on March 25. Geller, who has worked at Tomlinson for over 30

years, said that he has experienced respiratory and sinus difficulties for

about 15 years, symptoms that are alleviated when he is out of school for

any extended period of time. In addition, his doctor says his immune system

has been significantly compromised over the years, leading to arthritic-type

joint pain.

In mid-March, Patty McHugh, who was a staff member working in Geller's

office, filed a similar claim, stating that she experiences chronic

respiratory illness and sinus problems due to chronic exposure to mold at

TMS.

After McKinley Elementary School was shut down in October 2000 due to toxic

mold after students and teachers complained of similar illnesses, the school

district also performed mold sampling at Tomlinson. Results showed that some

toxic molds, such as Stachybotrys Chartarum and certain species of

Aspergillus were found. In February and March of 2001, HRP Associates, Inc.,

of Plainville performed a remediation of problem areas in the building.

Geller said he began to wonder whether or not his illnesses may be linked to

Tomlinson after the McKinley situation came to light. Dr. Santilli of

the Allergy Associates of Fairfield County said he believed that the

building was to blame, and recommended in a letter filed with the suit that

Geller stay out of Tomlinson for at least two months. In that time, Santilli

wrote, he hopes to establish a plan to strengthen Geller and prepare him for

reentry to the building.

Geller is now in the middle of his leave from Tomlinson, during which he is

working with Santilli to desensitize himself to certain molds. " I'm feeling

better, " he said Monday. " The sinuses are clearing up. My cough continues,

but it's less than what it was. " Geller said that he plans to return to

Tomlinson, and added that there are others in the school who have had

experiences similar to his.

Town Attorney Saxl said this week that he and other town counsel

will be meeting this week to discuss the compensation suits. At this point,

he said, officials are still in a " fact-finding " mode, and are looking to

retain the services of experts in the mold field. At this preliminary stage,

he said he " believe that some of those claims may be overstated. " But

further investigation is needed to get a better sense of the situation, he

added.

Board of Education Chairman Madeo said this week that the town is

trying to implement its capital improvement plan at Tomlinson as quickly as

possible. The school has been tested as recently as February, he said, and

neither consultants nor the Health Department indicated that there were any

serious problems. " We believe that this building is safe " for students and

teachers, he said. He also said that the town is taking the workers

compensation claims " very seriously. "

©Fairfield Minuteman 2002