Homeowners are suing builders over mold they say is making them sick, seeking millions of dollars in damages. Builders say their fears are overblown.

Across the country, homeowners are increasingly filing lawsuits against home builders, alleging that construction defects are leading to mold growth, making their homes uninhabitable and causing health issues. These lawsuits often seek millions of dollars in damages to cover remediation, repairs, and health-related costs. For instance, a Loudoun jury awarded one family $4.75 million in a mold case due to shoddy construction and unsealed leaks.

Builders, however, frequently dispute these claims. They often argue that homeowners' fears about mold are exaggerated, that the issues are due to poor homeowner maintenance, or that there's insufficient evidence linking specific health problems to mold in their constructions. For example, the Quaker Group, a developer sued by South Jersey homeowners, denied allegations of inferior workmanship, suggesting that water intrusion could be caused by various factors, including homeowner maintenance, and stated they had not received documents confirming mold existence or health problems.

Specific cases highlight recurring complaints, such as failure to caulk around windows and doors, neglecting to install flashing, or lacking insulation and tar paper behind exterior walls, leading to water seepage and mold. Lawsuits have been filed against companies like the Quaker Group in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, D.R. Horton in Louisiana, and other builders in areas like League City, Texas. These legal battles are costly, and in some instances, insurance companies have even stopped writing new homeowner policies or added mold exclusions due to the potential liability, indicating the significant financial impact of these disputes.

Homeowners describe symptoms ranging from coughing and wheezing to more severe conditions like Epstein-Barr virus, which they suspect are linked to mold exposure. Many are left in difficult financial situations, unable to afford repairs or move out of their homes. Lawyers representing these families are challenging builders for failing to meet federal, state, and local building codes, laws, ordinances, and industry standards, often requiring extensive and expensive home overhauls, such as replacing entire sections of homes damaged by water and mold.