2 sue UA alleging mold hurt them ( City)

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http://www.azstarnet.com/star/sat/10224lawsuit.html

Tucson, Arizona Saturday, 24 February 2001

City

2 sue UA alleging mold hurt them

By Garrecht Gassen

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Two former City residents are suing the UA and the Arizona Board

of Regents claiming mold in the student housing complex caused lasting

emotional and health problems.

The suits were filed Feb. 16 on behalf of Charla Carr and

Livingston in Maricopa County Superior Court, where claims against the state

must be filed.

Both suits ask for compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering,

diminished ability to earn a living and cognitive defects they contend were

caused by mold in the City off-campus housing complex for

graduate students and family housing.

No dollar amount is listed on the lawsuit, but notice of intent to sue the

UA filed in late October listed $450,000 for Carr and her child and $2.9

million for Livingston and her two children.

The University of Arizona announced last May it was closing the 350-unit

complex because mold had been found in at least 20 apartments tested. The

doors closed in August.

Carr and Livingston claim the university neglected maintenance on the aging

complex, that air conditioning and water handling units in the apartments

were defective and that the UA knew of the mold problems but did not take

adequate action.

According to the lawsuit, Livingston experienced congestion, coughing and

fatigue after moving into a City apartment in the summer of 1997

and she fainted in the shower and passed out, and lapsed into a coma after

being hospitalized in July 1997.

UA Residence Life Director Jim Van Arsdel said in May that Carr's complaints

about her daughter's health and mold prompted wider testing at

City, which led to closing the complex.

UA spokeswoman Sharon Kha said university policy is to not comment on

pending litigation.