Saratoga Springs, Addison, Texas

Trammell Crow - Property Manager

Cigna - Property Owner

Mold Sends Apartment Tenants Packing

Mary Ann Razzuk

DALLAS — A number of residents at Saratoga Springs Apartments in Dallas packed their bags and moved out Thursday after their units tested positive for the toxic stachybotrys mold. At least 50 are suing apartment owners and managers claiming not enough was done to safeguard their health.

Robbin Douglas now wears a protective suit to enter her apartment after she was notified her unit at Saratoga Springs was contaminated. Douglas said the mold was discovered in her kitchen behind the refigerator. She had to leave on October 27. Douglas said her unit was one of 22 that tested positive. Residents in affected apartments have until January 2 to move out permanently. Douglas is one of more than 50 people who are now part of a class action lawsuit filed against apartment owners and managers. The tenants allege they are victims of "negligent maintenance" and "fraudulent concealment" of the toxic mold, which many say has caused them mild to serious problems.

Apartment managers said they have not seen the lawsuit and they dispute claims the mold was spread through air ducts. Management says there are no common air ducts linking apartments. They said they are developing a specific remediation plan to clean up the mold in affected units.

Bruce Klein said he is breaking his lease and moving out, despite an air quality report provided by management that indicated his unit has no stachybotrys mold spores. "We can't afford to stay here, no matter what they decide to do," Klein said. "It's just not worth it." Klein and other residents who live near affected units claim they are having the same unexplainable health problems, so they are ordering their own tests to make sure the stachybotrys problem is not more widespread. Apartment tenants said they expect to get the results of lab tests in a few weeks.