Aug 20 2002 Home insurance: Out of control Three Part Series:
Aug 20 2002 Candidates
join debate on insurance Part 3 of 3 By W. Gardner Selby
Express-News Austin Bureau Bill Stinson, spokesman for the Texas Association
of Realtors, said insurance rates have "slammed onto everybody's plate."
His group is organizing a coalition to seek rate regulation and reduce
inappropriate denials of coverage.
Aug 19 2002 A
mess of mold Part 2 of 3 By L.A. Lorek Express-News
Business Writer For nearly two years, Henry Idar and his wife have
pleaded with Farmers Insurance to get their house back into livable condition.
Included:
Homeowners
raising roof over insurance costs Part 1 of 3. By Travis
E. Poling Express-News Business Writer "We believe that homeowners
are being price-gouged," said Dan Lambe of Texas Watch, a consumer advocacy
organization in Austin. "I can't think of an issue that's affecting families
more. People just can't afford a 100 percent increase in homeowner's insurance."
Aug 19 2002 Breaking
the mold. Get to source of water leaks to fend off this fungus
By Sadie Jo Smokey The Arizona Republic. What's all the fuss? Money, health
and livelihood. Here are 10 common beliefs about mold and the truths behind
them.
Aug 19 2002 The
United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act of 2002 or thee Melina
Bill. [H.R.5040.IH]
[Background]The
Fungus Among Us Scientists, Government Officials Search for Answers to
Moldy Questions By Geraldine Sealey ABCNews.com But Walker's story
is different from anybody else's. She happens to be the office manager
and district scheduler for U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a veteran Democratic
congressman from Detroit, who will introduce federal legislation in the
next few weeks named "Melina's Bill" for Walker's daughter. The bill aims
to protect consumers from the physical and financial effects of toxic mold
damage.
Congressional
Subcommittees on Housing and Community Opportunity And Oversight
and Investigations Joint Hearing entitled "Mold: A Growing Problem"
House Committee on Financial
Services
Housing
and Community Opportunity Subcommittee
Housing
and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Membership
Aug 13 2002 FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE PUBLIC FORUM ON MOLD STATE REGIONAL COMPLEX,
HURSTON BUILDING ORLANDO, FLORIDA August 14, 2002
Aug 12 2002 Mold
Takes Hold By JO-ANN JOHNSTON Yes, mold sometimes follows an event
insurance will cover, like strong wind or a rainstorm. But mold also can
follow leakage caused by a construction defect, such as a gap between the
roof and the walls or the wall and the floor, or just poor roof maintenance
such as inattention to leaks.
Aug 7 2002 Victims,
insurers raise a stink about toxic moldBy Jeff Ostrowski, Palm
Beach Post Staff Writer. If insurers didn't drag their feet on paying mold
claims, they could fix toxic mold damage more cheaply, before it spreads,
and without lawsuits.
Aug 1 2002 Homeowners,
Insurance Officials Face Off On Mold (see video of public hearing
and story at http://www.nbc6.net/news/1585200/detail.html
PLANTATION,
Homeowners attending a public hearing with state and insurance officials
Tuesday voiced anger over what they said is a growing mold problem in Broward
County.
Aug 1 2002 Homeowners
and insurers differ over impact of mold Homeowners, insurers at odds BY
MICHAEL A.W. OTTEY mottey@herald.com "At least 300 people crammed into
Plantation City Hall for the forum. Among them were people with claims
that mold has forced them out of their homes and cost them their health,
not to mention huge financial losses."
July 31 2002 Florida
Mold Hearings have started. More slated. Two other hearings will
be held in Tampa and Orlando in August and will be announced once dates
and locations are determined. Written comments will also be considered
by the department and can be sent to: Steve Roddenberry, Florida Department
of Insurance, Division of Insurer Services, 200 East Gaines St. or roddenberrys@doi.state.fl.us.
Jul 23 2002 Florida
Dept of Insurance Announces Public Hearings on Mold. The South
Florida hearing is schedule for July 30, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., in Plantation
at the Plantation City Council Chambers, 400 NW 73rd Ave.
Two other hearings will be held in Tampa and Orlando in August and will
be announced once dates and locations are determined.
Jul
19 2002 "There is no evidence that building designs and construction practices
are responsible for the increase in mold claims. Moreover, there is no
evidence that mold is more prevalent in new homes than in older homes."
--Gerald
M. Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, National
Association of Home Builders
Congressional
Subcommittees on Housing and Community Opportunity And Oversight
and Investigations Joint Hearing entitled "Mold: A Growing Problem"
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Feb 15, 2002 TX
House Mold Hearings Audio Available.
Feb 13, 2002
Current Events. Contact your officials concerning the mold issue in Texas:
Mold
Task Force Hearing Schedule.
Insurance Commissioner Jose Montemayor Mold Task Force:
The commissioner has removed mold coverage for our homes and has now
appointed a mold task force stacked with the insurance industry and tort
reform groups. This task force does not have one single homeowner
affected by mold contamination. To voice your opinion email: Jose.Montemayor@tdi.state.tx.us
Texas House or Representative Insurance Committee:
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE 1. Review issues associated with homeowners'
insurance coverage of toxic mold and mold related claims. Consider
measures that would ensure appropriate coverage and remediation of
damage and maintain the viability of the homeowners' insurance market.
To contact this committee send an email to: John.Smithee@house.state.tx.us
Texas Governor:
The Texas Governor Mansion was once remediated of mold contamination.
Voice your opinion to the Governor about the rights of consumers and the
need for protection of homeowners. Contact information acn be found at
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact%20%20information/mailing/mail.htm
Email at: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact%20%20information/email/email_the_governor.htm
