Mold Scare at College Apartment Complex

January 16, 2006

Jan 15, 2006, 11:50 PM EST

Toledo,OH

TOLEDO -- A University of Toledo student says her neighbors may not

be safe. She claims there is black mold growing in her apartment and

that it landed her in the hospital.

22-year-old Batt lives at the Olde Towne University Square

apartments on Westwood. They were just built last summer. When she

returned from Christmas break, she was shocked at what she found --

black marks on the walls, in the medicine cabinet, the refrigerator

and the dish washer.

also suffers from asthma and it wasn't long before she

started feeling sick. " I started having really bad pains in my

stomach and I started doubling over in pain, " said .

She wound up in the hospital for two days. In the meantime, 's

mom, Jeannie Powers, went straight to the apartment managers and

started asking some tough questions. " What if my daughter lives here

for the next six months and six months from now she dies. Can you

guarantee me that's not going to happen? You can't, " said Powers.

Jeanne says managers blamed the black marks on , saying they

were caused by burning candles. But she didn't buy it and called the

health department.

News 11 obtained a copy of the inspector's report which

confirmed " active mold growth " inside the apartment.

isn't just concerned about her own health, she's worried that

other students who live here could also be getting sick. " I want

other students in the complex to understand what's going on. They

have a right to know. They have a right to know what they should be

looking for in their apartment and they have a right to know that we

have a mold problem here, " said .

The Company, based in Columbus, owns the apartment complex.

Sunday night, regional manager Nate Rivard responded to our

story. " We've taken the necessary steps to determine what the

residue substance in the apartment is through a third party

inspector, " said Rivard.

For now, the complex is putting up in a model apartment.

Results from the private inspector's tests should be completed later

this week.

Posted by jcook

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