Re: safest states for mold

[Guest guest]

I'm very interested in what you've learned about toxic mold cases in Arizona and New Mexico. I was under the impression that there weren't too many. My toxic mold house was in NM, and I'm desperately seeking information about the mold/raw sewage combination. Also seeking an attorney who knows something about this. After my regular doctor and two Ear Nose & Throat specialists seemed fairly clueless about my symptoms (one was sure my chronic and acute laryngitis was caused by acid reflux), I wasn't too interested in seeking medical treatment. I completely lost my voice, then my job, then my insurance coverage, and I was too broke to go for all the tests the environmental specialist recommended, and too sick to care. It was all I could do to keep fighting to discover the source of moisture in that awful house. The landlord fought me every step of the way. Wouldn't pay for a plumber. Wouldn't allow access to the crawlspace where all the pipes were. Knowing absolutely nothing about toxic mold, I was beginning to think she had a dead body or two down there. I just couldn't imagine what else could be so worthy of her efforts to prevent my access. Finally we cut a hole in the floor and found what looked like the surface of another planet. I was too sick to look, but I did stick my hand down there with a camera. The photos are pretty telling. They also reveal some amazingly funky plumbing! Turns out there was a busted pipe, and raw sewage was pumping directly under my son's bedroom. I don't know for how long. We were only there four months. All our symptoms fit the toxic mold scenario, but I don't know what the sewage microorganisms contributed. The landlord says we caused it... first because my son's friend put too much toilet paper in the toilet before we even moved in! Someone must have told her that wouldn't stand up too well, because she changed her story later, saying they found a hand towel that I had supposedly flushed, and that caused the pipe to break. I suspect she may be suffering from toxic encephalopathy!!! Anyway, any info on New Mexico mold and/or sewage cases, especially litigation, would be greatly appreciated. Also any attorney recommendations. I moved in to that house 9/15/01, and I fear my statute of limitations may be running out. I don't have much time or energy to research properly. I welcome all suggestions ~ Dana