According to Nehasil, the family had been in the home less than three years when they were advised by their doctor to leave the home in November of 2001 due to problems related to the presence of Stachybotrys, a type of mold. Nehasil noted she and her husband Craig, as well as their three children, developed symptoms including frequent sinus infections, chronic headaches, and shortness of breath. The children sometimes woke up with bloody noses, Nehasil reported, and her six-month-old son had trouble breathing.
The family asserts that the root of the problem was moisture caused by a leaky roof and a poorly ventilated attic, as well as a damp basement that lacked adequate sealant protection and was plagued by water draining from the surrounding area, which was improperly graded.