This book is intended as a practical reference for lawyers and others who deal with the impact of mold on commercial and residential real estate, whether from the vantage point of insurance, construction, or ownership, and who want to gain a commonsense understanding of the current legal issues affecting mold litigation. The book is not intended to be an exhaustive legal treatise on mold litigation, but rather a practical road map for those who have limited experience in handling mold claims. Forms, checklists, and copies of actual petitions and orders from recent mold cases in the US are included. This edition adds a new chapter on floods and hurricanes, and updates on the science behind mold litigation and on government regulations. King has a medical degree from the U. of Texas and a law degree from the Oklahoma City U. School of Law.

An indispensable guide for anyone interested in mold litigation, this book offers critical background information for context, covering such topics as exposure, illness, allergic reactions, types of claims filed, and insurance issues.

Molds are everywhere: we inhale their microscopic spores from birth to death. But when an investigation in Ohio revealed that babies suffering from a serious lung illness had been exposed to a toxic black mold in their homes, millions of Americans became nervous about patches of mold in their own basements and bathrooms. Before long, lawsuits were filed by the residents of mold-contaminated homes in every state. By failing to address water damage, building contractors, plumbers, and insurance agents were held liable for exposing families to an unprecedented microbiological hazard. The mold crisis soon developed into a fully-fledged media circus. In Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores, Nicholas Money explores the science behind the headlines and courtroom dramas, and profiles the toxin-producing mold that is a common inhabitant of water-damaged buildings. Nicholas Money tells the most important mycological story since potato blight, with his inimitable style of scientific clarity and dark humor.

Trying a toxic tort case is unlike other high-stakes litigation. This guide explores the legal elements that distinguish toxic tort litigation, explaining theories of liability and damages as well as procedural and substantive defenses. Chapters cover scientific and medical evidence, causation, trial management and strategy, settlement, and specialized litigation, including mold, lead, asbestos, silica, food products, pharmaceuticals, and MTBE.