Re: Experss your opinion on Mold regulation

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Liability Insurance will not be a deterrent in light of the
recent tort reform. Most all contractors only require a high
school education. Get this in MS the board of realtors
govern the board of certified home inspectors. They will not
say the word "Mold". There is also no rule that they are
required provide disclosure of the presense of mold. On the
flip side the City Inspectors are liceansed by the State
board of Archtects. There use the World Building Code
requiring mold to be removed. HUD will provide the property
owners a chance to remediate when the home is condemned with
grant, loans. However, there remains a central governing
board that mandates how the insurance companies honor their
policies. The state insurance group does not have the power
to make the companies act in good faith. This leaves the
issue where is presently is at, within the courts. The home
inspectors are only required to have $250,000 of liability
insurance. Until there are definiative test for mold in a
home structure and limites established within each state,
there is no threshold of liability, just speculative
conjecture.

jc

On 2/13/04, Phares Heindl wrote:
> ASTOR, Fla. -- A Central Florida woman is blaming toxic
> mold for stealing her health.
> To add to her woes, when a mold removal specialist showed
> up, the condition went from bad to worse, WESH NewsChannel
> 2 reported.
>
> Deborah Calloway, 43, lost part of her lung last year. Her
> doctors blame toxic mold.
>
> "[There was] never nothing wrong with me; perfect health. I
> was on the go 24-7," Calloway said.
>
> Contractor Micah Bass is working on Calloway's home to get
> rid of the mold. Another contractor botched the job, and
> that's the problem. Many people decide they know how to get
> rid of toxic mold, but Florida doesn't regulate the
> industry. Anyone can hang out a shingle and try to get a
> mold removal job. The risks are mounting.
>
> Altamonte Springs attorney Phares Heindl represents mold-
> affected clients. Because of a lack of state regulation,
> here's one safeguard to take.
>
> "One of the things you should look for if you're going to
> hire a mold remediatior. Do they have liability insurance?
> Because if they don't remediate the home right, someone's
> going to have to be held responsible for that," Heindl said.
>
> Those seeking mold removal can also protect themselves by
> calling the Better Business Bureau. When a company is
> located, references can be checked with past customers. The
> same company shouldn't be hired to inspect and remove mold.
>
> By keeping the inspector and removal specialist separate,
> experts said customers are more likely to get honest work.
>
> Alan and Deborah Calloway learned the hard way the price of
> an industry unregulated.
>
> To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Kathy Marsh.
>
>
>

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