Jury faults Clippers owner for renter's moldy apartment

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Jury faults Clippers owner for renter's moldy apartment

UNION-TRIBUNE

July 2, 2002

A Superior Court jury yesterday found Los Angeles Clippers owner and real

estate mogul Sterling primarily responsible for the moldy conditions

of an apartment complex he owns in Encinitas.

Sterling was named along with in a lawsuit filed by Louann

Murray, who said she developed asthma because of her moldy dwelling in the

Ritz Colony Apartments. She said the mold also caused irreparable damage to

her antique furniture and clothes.

Murray said apartment officials tried to cover up the mold instead of

eradicating it. She rented the apartment in 1999 for $850 a month.

The jury decided the defendant was 69 percent at fault and awarded Murray

about $50,000 in damages.

The jury also said Murray contributed to the moldy conditions by not opening

her windows enough.