Construction company responsible for mold, suit says

Sunday, June 10, 2001

HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) — Students and workers at Texas State Technical College are
suing a construction company they say is responsible for mold contamination at the college.

Sixteen individuals have filed the suit against Peacock Construction Co., alleging health
problems as a result of shoddy construction.

“We allege that there is a defective design, construction and maintenance of the heating
and cooling ventilation system,” Harlingen attorney Michael Kiesel said. “A certain level of
moisture is present in there all the time that has caused mold and mildew to grow and
flourish. That's what's making these people sick.”

The lawsuit states the college's “environment has been contaminated with pollution, mold,
mildew, bacteria, fungus, and/or other toxic materials, some of which have not yet been
identified, which was caused by negligent construction ... ”

Student Stephanie Garcia is one of the students who is included in the suit against
Peacock Construction Co.

She said she's become ill since attending classes in the mold-infested classrooms.

“I want an apology to the students, I want the school to take the proper measure to clean
the mold, I want medical expenses,” Garcia told the (Harlingen) Valley Morning Star.
“They're not taking our health seriously.”

Neither Peacock Construction Co. nor TSTC officials were reached for comment by the
newspaper Friday afternoon.

A private consultant TSTC hired found sufficient quantities of mold to cause students,
staff and faculty members to become ill. The consultant was hired after a Texas Health
Department study came to the same conclusion.

The school could be included in the lawsuit at a future date, Kiesel said.

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