Former state Sen. Skip Campbell’s law firm is suing the county along with three contractors alleging that water damage suffered from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma created toxic mold. The firm charged that the mold was not effectively dealt with and that air quality in the building is unacceptable.

At least five employees expect to file suit this week.

Campbell wrote county commissioners in August 2008 threatening to sue for negligence and violations of state building standards. Campbell said then that the mold problems are too extensive to remedy. He said he would not only seek damages for his clients but a court order to force the county to meet its obligations of providing a safe courthouse.

Campbell said the hurricane damage was just one of many serious problems at the courthouse that led to mold. “The indoor air quality was already judged to be ‘sick’ when more damage occurred,” he said. “Burst pipes in December 2008 and January 2009 and a leaky urinal in February of 2009 continued to infect the air quality, making work at the Courthouse hazardous to one’s health.”

Voters rejected a ballot initiative in 2006 to borrow $450 million to improve Broward's court system. A blue-ribbon committee is currently studying the fate of the aging courthouse.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/03/courthouse_employees_sue_over.html

###