(PRWEB) January 16, 2002
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance, as well as other large Insurers,
continue to ignore covered losses under Home Owners policies.
YES, it is the home owners who suffer because of this! For a home owner
to pay premiums to be covered for perils to their homes, and then have
their Insurer try to find ways to ignore/decline coverage has to end!
Legislation needs to be passed to regulate this!
The most prominent situation where this occurs today is when claims
involve Toxic Mold. Nationwide and other Insurers have their adjusters
trained to completely ignore the presence of Toxic Mold. Insurers are
spending money to train their employees on Toxic Mold, and therefore,
are well informed as to the process of identification as well as the
remediation efforts required to get rid of it. One would think that
these Insurers would parlay this information to their policy holders.
THEY DON'T!
Why?
Because to date there is no Federal, State, or Local governing agency
that has stepped up to establish limits or standards for airborne
concentrations of mold or mold spores. No Federal, State, or Local
agency has published regulations or standards addressing mold prevention
or remediation. No Federal, State, or Local agency currently offer
testing services for mold samples and mold remediation contractors are
not licensed. In summary: no Federal, State, or Local agency in the
nation has the authority to treat Toxic Mold as a serious environmental
danger to public health.
Do you realize the stress, anxiety and frustration surrounding a public
health danger-Toxic Mold- when our own governing bodies have still yet
to step in and help us? This is not just a home owner danger, but it a
real big problem in commercial buildings and schools.
The Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001 (SB 732) has been enacted in
California. It is this bill, or a form of it, that needs to be passed
nation-wide. It is this that Chris Clinton is campaigning to have passed
and your help is immediately requested.
The Toxic Mold Protection Act requires the State Department of Health to
convene a task force comprised of individuals including, but not limited
to, health officers, health and medical experts, mold abatement experts,
representatives of government-sponsored enterprises, representatives
from school districts or county offices of education, representatives of
employees and representatives of employers, and affected consumers and
affected industries including, residential, commercial, and industrial
tenants, proprietors, managers or landlords, insurers, and builders, to
advise the department on the development of permissible exposure limits
to mold, standards for assessment of molds in indoor environments as
well as alternative standards for hospitals, child care facilities, and
nursing homes, standards for identification, and remediation of molds.
This bill would require the department to develop public education
materials and resources to inform the public about the health effects of
molds, methods of prevention, methods of identification and remediation
of mold growth, and contact information to organizations or governmental
entities to assist public concerns.
REAL WORLD STORY:
1. The Clinton family files claims with Nationwide for two incidents of
mold in their home in June 2001.
2. Nationwide tells the Clinton's that they are not covered at all for
one claim(despite the fact that an additional premium for a rider above
and beyond their standard policy covered them for the loss).
3. Nationwide sends out an adjuster for the second claim. This
adjuster tells the Clinton's to go to Home Depot and buy a tube of
silicon to prevent further damage. Adjuster completely ignores the
mold damage. 10-12 days later the Clinton's receive a check for $1,400
with no itemization as to what the check covers. The Clinton's then
send a letter to Nationwide requesting itemization(which is required by
law). The Clinton's eventually get a copy of the itemization that the
$1,400 covers. Turns out it was only to replace cosmetic items and not
remediate the mold or address correcting any other problems.
4. The Clinton's decide not to be walked on by Nationwide and hire an
attorney.
5. The Clinton's are told by their doctor that no one should live in
the house until the mold has been remediated. The Clinton's have not
spent a night in their home since July 2001.
6. Nationwide brings in a Certified Industrial Hygienist to conduct
testing on the home. The report that follows indicates "Massive
Amounts of toxic mold" and specifies plan to remediate it. Nationwide
ignores this report.
7. Since June 2001 to present, Nationwide continues to ignore covered
losses. The Clinton's are borrowing money from family to try and cover
the over $100,000 worth of damage just so they can have their home back.
Contact me at 484-432-4265 or at toxicmold@worldnet.att.net for full
details of this story.
Chris Clinton is one person trying to make the difference for many others whom are
in this situation and he needs the media to help him bring this public.