Women blame mold in rental units for kids' sickness

WHEELING – Two Ohio County women are suing over claims they and their children became sick after their rental units' property management company allegedly failed to remove mold.

Shahara Quinn, individually and as parent and next friend of Kreedynse Titan, a minor, and Mariah Hawkins, individually and as parent and next friend of Willow, Abigale and Jesse Hawkins, minors, filed lawsuits Oct. 3 in Ohio Circuit Court against Belmont Properties Inc., citing negligence.

According to Quinn's complaint, she and her child became ill and required hospitalization due to mold that the property management company, Belmont Properties, failed to remove from their unit. The defendant is accused of negligence.

Similarly, Hawkins says she repeatedly requested repairs to her rental unit, but Belmont failed to eradicate the mold that had overtaken the unit, causing her and her children to become sick and require hospitalization. She accuses the defendant of breach of lease and negligence.

Quinn and Hawkins seek damages and costs of action.

The plaintiffs in both cases are represented by attorney Daniel M. Balgo of Balgo and Kaminski in St. Clairsville, Ohio. The cases have been assigned to Circuit Judge Martin J. Gaughan.

Ohio Circuit Court case numbers: 14-C-292, 14-C-295