mold-symptom.com

TORRINGTON-- Another parent has jumped on the bandwagon to sue the City’s school board and area construction companies due to alleged medical ailments experienced by their middle school-age children.

A New Haven attorney representing the parent of a former Torrington Middle School student now being home-schooled has filed a statutory notice of intent to sue the City’s Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools and local construction companies.

Attorney John E. Deaton of the law firm Early, Ludwick, Sweeney & Strauss filed the official notice at Torrington’s City Clerk’s office this month, claiming that poor air quality and ventilation were among the causes of an irreversible medical disease.

Deaton represents parents Peter and Joanne Avoletta, whose child Peter Avoletta allegedly sustained health injuries while enrolled at Torrington Middle School.

"Peter currently receives homebound instruction because Dr. John Santelli performed tests in July 2003 and found that toxic mold exists in Peter’s blood, and Peter was then diagnosed in August 2003 by Dr. Karen Daigle at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center with irreversible lung disease," Deaton said.

According to Deaton, Avoletta’s exposure to negligent conditions within the Torrington Middle School building was a significant contributing factor to Daigle’s diagnosis.

"These conditions, which exist because of the repeated negligence to adequately repair the roof and to provide a healthy indoor environment at TMS include, but are not limited to elevated dampness, lack of proper ventilation, mold and overall poor indoor air quality," Deaton said.

According to Deaton, the City of Torrington and/or its employees have known about the poor indoor air quality at Torrington Middle School from the time of the installation of the roof and all of its attending problems thereafter.

"I anticipate filing the lawsuit in the very near future," he said.

Heeding the advice of their attorney, the Avolettas declined to comment on the notice of intent to sue.

A copy of Deaton’s letter was also forwarded to Mayor Owen Quinn, Corporation Counsel Al Vasko and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory Riccio.

Parties anticipated in the prosecution of the lawsuit include but are not limited to Riccio, Torrington’s Board of Education, O&G Industries, Borghesi Building and Engineering and the Butler Manufacturing Company, all of which were involved in the construction, maintenance and/or repair of Torrington Middle School.