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Mold Update
Wednesday, 16 August 2006

Monday Morning Mold (Mycology) - August 14, 2006

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Monday Morning Mold (Mycology) - August 14, 2006
Mold (Mycology) in the Media
August 14, 2006
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Mold (Mycology) Stories - from Cynthia Anne Coulter (Mulvihill) of Hyde Mulvihill, APC
-- Defense Verdict in California Failure-to-Disclose Mold Case (PR Web, WA - Aug 2, 2006)
-- 2004 Mold Wrongful Death Case Verdict (Klinedinst News - Feb 20, 2004)
-- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Helps Family Evicted by Mold (DetNews.com, MI - Aug 9, 2006)
-- Aflatoxins [Aspergillus spp.] Cause Milk Recall (WRAL.com, NC - Aug 11, 2006)
-- Do you know the facts and dangers of mold? (The Daily Advertiser, LA - Aug 6, 2006)
-- Family flees 'house of horrors' - Faces bankruptcy after they discover recently purchased Stony Plain home infected with toxic levels of black mould (Edmonton Journal, Canada - Aug 1, 2006)
-- Mold Education: Basic Instinct - Immunity (Health Supplement Retailers, AZ - Jul 27, 2006)
-- Mold Education: National Institutes of Health - Aflatoxins and Aflatoxicosis
-- School Mold: Mold invades Milton Elementary (BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - Aug 10, 2006)
-- Court Mold: Mold, leaks plague 51-year-old courthouse jail (Shreveport Times, LA - Aug 10, 2006)
-- The Fight to Save Lebanons's Rare Manuscripts from Mold (NPR Audio Story - Aug 1, 2006)
-- Mold & Litigation: Lawsuits Filed by Post-Katrina Construction Workers (NPR Audio Story - July 17, 2006)
-- Mold Professionals: Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill (Mold Litigation Consulting)
-- For Fun: Debunking the Mayo Myth/Happy Birthday, Dear Mayo -- We Hold You Dear (NPR Audio Story - Aug 13, 2006)

 

Good Morning,

This week's photo is of a T lymphocyte, a pre- T cell involved in the immune response (see Mold Education below, for a basic discussion of immunity). A print of the photo by Dennis Kunkel can be purchased from www.astrographics.com.

Expect quite a bit of news about school mold in the next few weeks, as school buildings are opened up after a long, very hot summer.

Hot tips on mold? Please e- mail them to Cynthia A. Coulter Mulvihill at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


Defense Verdict in California Failure-to-Disclose Mold Case (PR Web, WA - Aug 2, 2006)
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In a recent real estate lawsuit, the buyers of a condominium alleged they had suffered health problems and damages as a result of mold exposure. They sued the sellers of the condo, their real estate agent, the homeowners association, and home inspectors. Their failure to disclose lawsuit alleged negligence, breach of contract, and misrepresentation. When the case went to trial, Plaintiffs presented numerous expert witnesses that testified the toxic mold had been present for some time. Kevin J. Gramling, an attorney for Klinedinst PC, represented the sellers of the condo, and was able to successfully demonstrate that the sellers had not misrepresented the sale, and that there was no negligence, fraud or breach of contract in the real estate transaction. This case could be a harbinger of lawsuits to come, given the myths still surrounding mold and toxic torts, and the high number of real estate transactions in California.

Santa Ana, CA (PRWEB) August 2, 2006 -- Kevin J. Gramling, the managing shareholder in Klinedinst's Santa Ana office, recently won a complex bench trial where the Plaintiffs alleged that the sellers of a condominium failed to disclose the presence of toxic mold.

Photo: Kevin J. Gramling

Click here for Defense Verdict in California Failure-to-Disclose Mold Case (PR Web, WA - Aug 2, 2006)


2004 Mold Wrongful Death Case Verdict (Klinedinst News - Feb 20, 2004)
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[Ed. Note: This is a reprint of a 2004 story. The firm that handled this matter was the same firm handling the previous case.] SAN DIEGO, CA - Klinedinst attorneys Kevin Gramling and Steve Pratt obtained a defense verdict in what is believed to be the first wrongful death mold trial in the United States. Klinedinst's successful defense could set a new precedent in the increasingly complex and expensive arena of mold litigation.

The eight-week trial in San Bernardino, California stemmed from the sale of a mobile home to a 60-year old grandmother and her two-year old grandson. Gramling and Pratt, both shareholders of the firm, defended the seller of the mobile home and the park where the mobile home was situated.

Click here for 2004 Mold Wrongful Death Case Verdict (Klinedinst News - Feb 20, 2004)


Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Helps Family Evicted by Mold (DetNews.com, MI - Aug 9, 2006)
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ARMADA TOWNSHIP -- As construction crews with ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on Wednesday tore down the Gilliam family's tiny white farmhouse, Doug Mills felt like he was witnessing a miracle. "This is pretty amazing a lot of prayers answered," said Mills, 57, of Chesterfield Township. Mills was among about 3,000 volunteers, workers and trades people -- all donning bright blue T-shirts and white hard hats -- who set aside their lives this week to reach out to the Armada Township family. They gripped sledge hammers and hand saws as they walked alongside area firefighters and blaring fire trucks toward the construction site on Armada Center for the show's ceremonial "Braveheart March."

The Gilliams' mold-infested home was chosen to receive the makeover -- out of thousands of applications nationwide -- because they suffered a great loss on Christmas Eve when father and volunteer firefighter David Gilliam, 41, died unexpectedly of pneumonia, leaving his wife, Maryann, 32, to care for their six young children.

Click here for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Helps Family Evicted by Mold (DetNews.com, MI - Aug 9, 2006)


Aflatoxins [Aspergillus spp.] Cause Milk Recall (WRAL.com, NC - Aug 11, 2006)
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ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. -- Maple View Farm is pulling a week's supply of milk off the market and dumping it. More than 7,000 gallons -- $30,000 worth -- of milk is going down the drain after cows at the farm ate corn that was tainted with a potentially harmful toxin.

Farm owner Bob Nutter isn't crying over the recall. "It's a part of life, part of farming," he said. "You get used to the ups and downs. I've been here too long to have it have an effect on me." But the longtime farmer admitted that he's worried about what will happen to his small milk production company.

Photo: Aspergillus spp.

Click here for Aflatoxins [Aspergillus spp.] Cause Milk Recall (WRAL.com, NC - Aug 11, 2006)


Do you know the facts and dangers of mold? (The Daily Advertiser, LA - Aug 6, 2006)
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As Louisiana continues to rebuild after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, more homeowners are having to battle the problems of mold. Although it is uncommon in most homes, toxic mold, also known as black mold, has become a major issue for some home builders and homeowners in the United States, according to Richard P. Vlosky and Todd F. Shupe of the LSU AgCenter.

The effects have run the gamut from disposal to litigation. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported there is no test that proves an association between black mold and particular health symptoms, a number of lawsuits have been filed against wood products manufacturers and builders claiming that human health has been compromised by exposure to mold.

Click here for Do you know the facts and dangers of mold? (The Daily Advertiser, LA - Aug 6, 2006)


Family flees 'house of horrors' - Faces bankruptcy after they discover recently purchased Stony Plain home infected with toxic levels of black mould (Edmonton Journal, Canada - Aug 1, 2006)
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EDMONTON - A Stony Plain family is facing financial ruin after they unknowingly bought a house infected with toxic levels of black mould. Steve and Norma Dima bought the 1970s-era home on a sprawling 1.6- hectare property just west of Stony Plain in a private sale in April.

The Dimas did not have the house inspected before agreeing to the sale. Now, just months after moving in and weeks after tests revealed unsafe levels of mould in the home, the Dimas are sleeping in a minivan in their own backyard.

Photo: Stachybotrys spp.

Click here for Family flees 'house of horrors' - Faces bankruptcy after they discover recently purchased Stony Plain home infected with toxic levels of black mould (Edmonton Journal, Canada - Aug 1, 2006)


Mold Education: Basic Instinct - Immunity (Health Supplement Retailers, AZ - Jul 27, 2006)
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[Ed. Note: This article is written by a site that promotes vitamins - vitamin promotion aside, it is a good explanation of allergic reactions.] Learning about something as complex as the immune system can be daunting, but as with most high level education, repetition rules. Staying up-to-date on the mechanisms of the immune system and its many active parts is the best way for a retailer to both understand the actions of various supplements and, in turn, educate customers while making suggestions on possible natural remedies.

The basic outside threats to human health are either viruses or bacteria. These are called antigens. Other usually innocuous substances can trigger an autoimmune response, such as in the case of allergies.

Illustration: Antigens

Click here for Mold Education: Basic Instinct - Immunity (Health Supplement Retailers, AZ - Jul 27, 2006)


Mold Education: National Institutes of Health - Aflatoxins and Aflatoxicosis
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Aflatoxicosis. Aflatoxicosis is poisoning that results from ingestion of aflatoxins in contaminated food or feed. The aflatoxins are a group of structurally related toxic compounds produced by certain strains of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Under favorable conditions of temperature and humidity, these fungi grow on certain foods and feeds, resulting in the production of aflatoxins. The most pronounced contamination has been encountered in tree nuts, peanuts, and other oilseeds, including corn and cottonseed. The major aflatoxins of concern are designated B1, B2, G1, and G2.

These toxins are usually found together in various foods and feeds in various proportions; however, aflatoxin B1 is usually predominant and is the most toxic. When a commodity is analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, the aflatoxins separate into the individual components in the order given above; however, the first two fluoresce blue when viewed under ultraviolet light and the second two fluoresce green. Aflatoxin M a major metabolic product of aflatoxin B1 in animals and is usually excreted in the milk and urine of dairy cattle and other mammalian species that have consumed aflatoxin-contaminated food or feed.

Click here for Mold Education: National Institutes of Health - Aflatoxins and Aflatoxicosis


School Mold: Mold invades Milton Elementary (BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - Aug 10, 2006)
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MILTON -- After years of battling sweltering rooms in the spring and summer, Milton Elementary School is faced with a new, growing problem: mold.

As a result, school officials are unsure whether the building will be ready for the start of school Aug. 30. Significant repairs will have to be done. Superintendent Holden Waterman said he hoped tonight's open School Board meeting would provide parents and teachers with answers about the district's course of action.

Photo: Penicillium spp.

Click here for School Mold: Mold invades Milton Elementary (BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - Aug 10, 2006)


Court Mold: Mold, leaks plague 51-year-old courthouse jail (Shreveport Times, LA - Aug 10, 2006)
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ARCADIA -- Mold that appears to be clinging to an air conditioner vent in a secretary's office. Leaks that have ruined walls, ceiling tiles, carpet and flooded an evidence vault. It's all become too frustrating to Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance who on Wednesday received a glimmer of hope from Bienville Parish police jurors in the form of an agreement to explore the construction of a new, larger detention center.

Doing so would abandon a jail expansion project that has been discussed for years but ditched recently when a request for state funding assistance did not happen. "It's unpleasant to have shower water (from the upstairs jail) leaking on the floor in our office," said Ballance.

Photo: Aspergillus flavus

Click here for Court Mold: Mold, leaks plague 51-year-old courthouse jail (Shreveport Times, LA - Aug 10, 2006)


The Fight to Save Lebanons's Rare Manuscripts from Mold (NPR Audio Story - Aug 1, 2006)
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sraeli troops pushed deeper into south Lebanon today with Hezbollah fighting back. Israel's defense minister says his country must now expand its operations against the Hezbollah militia. The goal is to push Hezbollah northward and hold the territory until an international force is deployed there.

BRAND: The fighting that began three weeks ago is just the latest in decades of war in Lebanon. Through it all in Beirut the Lebanese National Library has been struggling to hold on to – and display its collection of books and periodicals.

Click here for The Fight to Save Lebanons's Rare Manuscripts from Mold (NPR Audio Story - Aug 1, 2006)


Mold & Litigation: Lawsuits Filed by Post-Katrina Construction Workers (NPR Audio Story - July 17, 2006)
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Construction workers in New Orleans claim they were exploited in the months after Katrina, and have filed related lawsuits. J.J. Rosenbaum, a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center's Immigrant Justice Project, and Judith Browne, co-director of the Advancement Project, talk with Farai Chideya about working conditions in New Orleans.

Click here for Mold & Litigation: Lawsuits Filed by Post-Katrina Construction Workers (NPR Audio Story - July 17, 2006)


Mold Professionals: Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill (Mold Litigation Consulting)
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Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill is a California licensed attorney, admitted to practice in California state and federal courts. She has been the editor and publisher of Monday Morning Mold (Mycology) since 2002.

Ms. Mulvihill provides consulting services to Plaintiffs and Claimants - or potential Plaintiffs and Claimants; Defendants and potential defendants; attorneys; contractors; subcontractors; expert witnesses, remediators, etc. Ms. Mulvihill consults only. Her initial 15-minute consultation is free.

Ms. Mulvihill's confidential services include, depending on who she is retained by, and when:

  • Analysis of property damage and personal injuries
  • Conducting a property inspection
  • Reviewing medical records
  • Determination of the potential for a causal link between mycological issues and personal injuries
  • Research of what needs to be done to prove -- or disprove -- property damage, personal injuries, and their causal links
  • Determination what entity or entities might have caused property damage
  • Reviewing insurance policies to determine if insurance coverage is available for the claims
  • Determination what kind of expert or experts need to be retained to prove or disprove a case
  • Preparation of expert witnesses for depositions
  • Preparation of written discovery
  • Preparation of attorneys for questioning of expert witnesses
Ms. Mulvihill's work is, in general, protected by the attorney-client and attorney work-product privileges.

 

Click here for Mold Professionals: Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill (Mold Litigation Consulting)


For Fun: Debunking the Mayo Myth/Happy Birthday, Dear Mayo -- We Hold You Dear (NPR Audio Story - Aug 13, 2006)
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Will mayonnaise make you sick if you leave the picnic potato salad out too long in this heat?

Dr. Doyle: There's an old wives' tale that mayonnaise being added to perishable foods will cause food poisoning. That's not true. Acid is added to mayonnaise to prevent these bad bacteria from growing and producing illness. However, there are certain types of micorganisms -- such as molds and other types of bacteria -- that can spoil mayonnaise. [They] don't make you sick, but they can spoil mayonnaise. So once mayonnaise has been opened, it's important to refrigerate it so that the spoilage bacteria don't grow and cause "off flavors."

But there's a difference between something being spoiled and something that can make you sick?

There's a big difference between the harmful bacteria that can make you sick and the spoilage microorganisms that just make the food not taste good.

Click here For Fun: Debunking the Mayo Myth/Happy Birthday, Dear Mayo -- We Hold You Dear (NPR Audio Story - Aug 13, 2006)


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