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Chapter 1 Mold
lawsuits in the news |
101 |
| |
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1.1 Mold lawsuits up by
300%-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
102 |
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1.2 Denver International Airport faces mold
lawsuits----------------------------------------------- |
103 |
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1.3 Mold forces cuts in hours in Tulare County
Court---------------------------------------------- |
104 |
|
1.4 Mold-stricken Ed McMahon files
lawsuit------------------------------------------------------ |
105 |
|
1.5 Tennessee jail mold makes staffers ill; kills
inmate---------------------------------------------- |
106 |
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1.6 Mold claims spread to
cars-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
107 |
|
1.7 Beware of illegal and unregistered
fungicide---------------------------------------------------- |
109 |
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1.8 The reasons behind the rise in mold
lawsuits--------------------------------------------------- |
109 |
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1.8.1 Population
shifts----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
110 |
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1.8.2 The rise of new
buildings-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
110 |
|
1.8.3 Rising property
values----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
110 |
|
1.8.4 More
plumbing------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
110 |
|
1.8.5 Advances in medical
science----------------------------------------------------------------- |
110 |
|
1.8.6 Increased public
awareness------------------------------------------------------------------ |
111 |
|
1.8.7 Government
action-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
111 |
|
1.8.8 Mold
industry------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
111 |
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1.8.9 Numerous successful mold
litigations--------------------------------------------------------- |
111 |
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Chapter 2 Filing class
action lawsuits |
201 |
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2.1 What is a class
action?------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
201 |
|
2.2 Class action prerequisites and legal
procedure------------------------------------------------- |
201 |
|
2.2.1 Prerequisites to a class
action---------------------------------------------------------------- |
201 |
|
2.2.2 Class actions
maintainable------------------------------------------------------------------- |
201 |
|
2.2.3 Determination by order whether class action to be
maintained; notice; judgment; actions |
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conducted partially as class
actions---------------------------------------------------------- |
202 |
|
2.2.4 Orders in conduct of
actions----------------------------------------------------------------- |
203 |
|
2.2.5 Dismissal or compromise of class
action----------------------------------------------------- |
203 |
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Chapter 3 Legal
implications of mold contamination of HVAC systems |
301 |
| |
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3.1 Sick building syndrome and IAQ
lawsuits------------------------------------------------------ |
301 |
|
3.2 HVAC manufacturing and design
defects------------------------------------------------------ |
302 |
|
3.3 Legal liability of HVAC manufacturers for
mold-related injuries-------------------------------- |
303 |
|
3.4 Proposed HVAC design
solutions------------------------------------------------------------- |
303 |
| |
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Chapter 4 Possible
causes of action and potential damage awards for mold contamination |
401 |
| |
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4.1 Common causes of
action--------------------------------------------------------------------- |
401 |
|
4.2 What is a
tort?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
402 |
|
4.3 Four elements of
tort-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
402 |
|
4.4 Duties of a
landlord---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
403 |
|
4.5 Legal grounds to file lawsuit against
defendants------------------------------------------------ |
403 |
|
4.5.1
Negligence---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
404 |
|
4.5.2 Strict
Liability------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
404 |
|
4.5.3 Breach of
Warranties------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
405 |
|
4.5.4 Constructive
Eviction------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
405 |
|
4.5.5 Workers
Compensation--------------------------------------------------------------------- |
405 |
|
4.5.6 Failure to
Disclose--------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
406 |
|
4.6 How to claim workers
compensation---------------------------------------------------------- |
407 |
|
4.7 California mold disclosure
law----------------------------------------------------------------- |
408 |
| |
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Chapter 5 Damages
recoverable in mold Cases |
501 |
| |
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5.1 Diminution of value and cost to
repair---------------------------------------------------------- |
501 |
|
5.2 Cost of remedying the
defects----------------------------------------------------------------- |
501 |
|
5.3 Personal exception
rule------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
501 |
|
5.4 Personal
injury-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
502 |
|
5.5 Prejudgment
interest--------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
502 |
|
5.6 Attorney’s
fees-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
502 |
|
5.7 Punitive
damages------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
503 |
|
5.8 Emotional distress
damages-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
503 |
| |
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Chapter 6 Statute of
Limitations for mold cases |
601 |
| |
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6.1 Purpose of statute of
limitations---------------------------------------------------------------- |
601 |
|
6.2 Delayed discovery
rule------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
601 |
|
6.3 Interruption of one-year statute of
limitations--------------------------------------------------- |
602 |
| |
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Chapter 7 Verdicts and settlements of
mold cases |
701 |
| |
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7.1 Recent published verdicts and settlements of mold
cases in California-------------------------- |
701 |
|
7.2 Recent publicized old cases in other
states----------------------------------------------------- |
702 |
|
7.3 Legal liability of insurance
companies---------------------------------------------------------- |
703 |
| |
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Chapter 8 The
mold-illness relationship |
801 |
| |
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8.1 Hysteria or
reality?---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
801 |
|
8.2 Scientific proof and the implications of legal
liability-------------------------------------------- |
802 |
|
8.3 Other reports linking mold to serious health and
property damage------------------------------ |
803 |
| |
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Chapter 9 Mold
insurance primer |
901 |
| |
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9.1 Types of
insurance---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
901 |
|
9.2 Traditional mold
insurance--------------------------------------------------------------------- |
902 |
|
9.3 Mold insurance? or incidental mold
coverage?------------------------------------------------- |
903 |
|
9.4 Review your policy carefully & understand your
coverage's------------------------------------ |
903 |
|
9.5 The basics of mold contamination insurance
coverage------------------------------------------ |
904 |
|
9.6 Property damage
coverage-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
905 |
|
9.7 Third-party liability
coverage------------------------------------------------------------------ |
906 |
|
9.8 Call your insurance agent & report a suspected
claim immediately------------------------------ |
906 |
|
9.9 Protect all property from any further
damage--------------------------------------------------- |
907 |
|
9.10 Photograph, videotape and inventory all damaged
property----------------------------------- |
907 |
|
9.11 Handling insurance claims: where to get the
information--------------------------------------- |
908 |
|
9.12 Your obligation to cooperate with insurance
company investigation--------------------------- |
908 |
|
9.13 Never sign anything without proper legal
advice---------------------------------------------- |
910 |
|
9.14 Get a second or even third opinion regarding
estimates--------------------------------------- |
910 |
|
9.15 You don’t have to use insurer’s “approved
contractors”-------------------------------------- |
911 |
|
9.16 Get professional help if you need
it----------------------------------------------------------- |
911 |
|
9.17 Statute of
limitations-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
911 |
|
9.18 Report all unfair claim handling to your
department of insurance or insurance regulator-------- |
912 |
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Chapter 10 Toxic mold
legislation |
1001 |
| |
|
|
10.1 2003 toxic mold
legislation------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1001 |
|
10.1.1
Illinois-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1001 |
|
10.1.2
Louisiana---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1001 |
|
10.1.3
Massachusetts----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1001 |
|
10.1.4
Montana----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1001 |
|
10.1.5
Oklahoma--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1002 |
|
10.1.6
Oregon------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
1002 |
|
10.1.7
Pennsylvania------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1002 |
|
10.1.8 Rhode
Island------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1002 |
|
10.1.9
Texas-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
1002 |
|
10.2 Toxic mold insurance
legislation-------------------------------------------------------------- |
1003 |
|
10.3 The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange
(CLUE)----------------------------------- |
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