WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, MI — The father of a 9-year-old girl who attends Washington Elementary School is suing the Romeo (MI) Community School District, citing black mold as the cause for his daughter’s illness.

According to a story in the Detroit Free Press, the lawsuit filed by Garth Allen claims that his daughter is suffering from asthma, sore throats, headaches, and dizziness due to black mold. The lawsuit states that the school district knew or should have known there was a dangerous condition with mold and not enough was done to correct it.

Washington Elementary is currently undergoing a $2 million clean-up after a June 2001 study by an independent group found black mold, also known as stachybotrys in two areas at the school. The 500 students are scheduled to return to the school on Jan. 18.

Publication date: 01/07/2002