Akerman Senterfitt lawyer to teach mold course

[Guest guest]

South Florida Business Journal - 9:30 AM EST Tuesday

Akerman Senterfitt lawyer to teach mold course

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2006/01/09/d

aily20.html

An attorney with a South Florida law office is to teach what the

firm is calling the nation's first university-accredited course on

mold prevention at Florida Atlantic University.

S. Greene, of Akerman Senterfitt, is to teach the course at

the university's School of Construction Safety and Architectural

Engineering.

Designed for architects, engineers, general contractors and

developers, " Construction Phase: Moisture & Mold Prevention " is to

focus on building science and forensic investigations to identify

water intrusion and prevent mold amplification in the construction

process.

With its tropical climate and construction boom, Akerman Senterfitt

indicated the course is especially relevant in South Florida. The

law firm has local offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm

Beach.

The first class of the 40-hour course is scheduled for Jan. 23-27 at

FAU's Fort Lauderdale campus.

Joining Greene as course instructors are Maurice Baum of

Environmental Research & Restoration and Ron Sabac of Inspect Now.

Greene's knowledge and experience includes handling what Akerman

Senterfitt said was the first mold litigation in the country: the

County Courthouse mold case.

According to Greene, controlling water and mold during the

construction phase has become a significant focus for the industry

particularly because of the Gorman case in California. In that case,

a family won a multimillion-dollar settlement from a homebuilder and

lumber company after their child suffered from severe brain injuries

when mold formed on framing studs.

" The settlement from the Gorman case confirms that everyone from

suppliers to builders needs to understand the intricacies of water

and mold management issues, " Greene explained.

The attorney, who lives in Plantation, focuses on representing

developers, institutional building owners, contractors, mold

assessors and financial institutions.

For further information or to register for the course, contact Gene

Ouellette, director of Florida Atlantic University School of

Construction Safety & Architecture, at (954) 229-4179 or

gouellet@....