Watch out!  The mildew smell in your bathroom may be more than meets the eye.

Recently, PLG reviewed a military mold case involving a musty smell coming from a bathroom. After many unfulfilled demands for remediation, testing confirmed pervasive toxic mold growth in the bathroom, including elevated levels of Stachybotrys, Penicillium/Aspergillus and Cladosporium. These molds have the potential to create profound and debilitating health effects so the military family was forced to IMMEDIATELY relocate into a hotel to protect their health. Recent court cases suggest mold is common in military housing — so what should you do if you suspect toxic mold in your on-base residence?

Here are some general tips that may be appropriate if you suspect harmful mold growth in your military housing unit:

1. Photograph all signs of the mold,
2. Request (and re-request) maintenance in writing,
3. Document and track your health effects (e.g. recurring sinus  infections, breath problems, etc.),
4. If necessary, seek medical treatment and report all evidence of mold in your residence to a medical provider,
5. If the mold continues to reoccur or you experience increasing negative health symptoms, make a written request for mold testing and copies of any records related to mold issues/repairs in your unit,
6. If testing is denied and the signs of mold or health effects continue, secure mold testing through an independent, accredited testing company. If toxic mold is found within the home, leave the residence, demand relocation assistance and full remediation of the mold. If your demand for relocation and full remediation are ignored or denied, demand release from your lease agreement.
7. Finally, if you are unable to get relief on your own, contact a reliable lawyer to assist you with the case.

Make sure to check back daily for posts focusing on questions unique to military members and their families!

Mike Lyons is an attorney with PLG that regularly handles personal injury occurring in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and on military installations.  Call 301-952-9000 to schedule a consultation.  You can review Mike's biography here.

DISCLAIMER:  The information above is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice for any particular situation.  No attorney-client relationship is intended or created by this information and may not be relied upon based on the above-statements.  Each individual situation is different and therefore a consultation is necessary before any advice can be relied upon as appropriate and accurate for your situation. This information is current as of January 15, 2020.