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Vape lung is a relatively new term used for a slew of respiratory diseases linked to vaping or e-cigarettes. The disease claimed its first life in Aug. 2019.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health officials in the State of Illinois investigated the death of a man from lung symptoms linked to vaping.

It came a month after CDC launched an investigation into reports of a mystery lung disease that affected more than 200 people in 25 states over the summer. CDC announced it was helping health departments in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Indiana, and Minnesota after the discovery of a “cluster of pulmonary illnesses linked to e-cigarette product use.”

People diagnosed with the disease are mostly men aged 17-38.  The CDC said most of the illnesses involve vaping THC, the main active compound in cannabis, BBC News reported.

The cases were recorded over two months from June 28 to the end of August. The man who died was “hospitalized with unexplained illness after reported vaping or e-cigarette use,” according to Dr. Jennifer Layden, the chief medical officer and state epidemiologist in Illinois.

According to reports, the people who fell ill reported symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue as well as some cases of vomiting and diarrhea. Doctors said there was no evidence an infectious disease caused the symptoms.

Officials in more than 20 states ordered laboratory tests of vaping liquid samples as they sought to identify harmful compounds that may have caused the disease. Media reports stated a black market exists for THC-containing vape cartridges. These are legally obtained through medical marijuana dispensaries in certain states.

Have Cases of Vape Lung Been Identified in Virginia?

On Aug. 26, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported three cases of vape lung associated with smoking e-cigarettes were reported in Virginia. Health officials in the Commonwealth said the conditions of the patients did not improve with antibiotics.

The CDC issued a warning about the dangers of vaping in the wake of the rising numbers of people diagnosed with vape lung. Robert R. Redfield, CDC director, said:

“This tragic death in Illinois reinforces the serious risks associated with e-cigarette products. Vaping exposes users to many different substances for which we have little information about related harms – including flavorings, nicotine, cannabinoids, and solvents. CDC has been warning about the identified and potential dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping since these devices first appeared. E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.”

The Virginia Department of Health urged doctors to look out for signs of illnesses linked to vaping.

How Are Injuries and Illnesses Linked to Vaping?

Vaping is a fairly new phenomenon. Although e-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they have caused numerous injuries and illnesses.

Even before the warnings of 2019, e-cigarettes or vape pens were linked to serious fires and explosions that disfigured users and even caused deaths.

In Feb. 2019, a 24-year-old man from Texas died from injuries he sustained after his vape pen exploded.

The Lithium-ion batteries in some devices caught fire with devastating effects. A report by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency warned lithium-ion batteries in e-cigarettes pose a “new and unique hazard.”

Many vaping devices are made cheaply and compromise on safety. The companies that run the $7 billion vaping industry are likely to face lawsuits for faulty devices and potential health impacts of vaping.

Diacetyl, one of the chemicals in flavored e-cigarettes is associated with a disease known as ‘popcorn lung’ in which the airways of the lungs called bronchioles sustain damage. Diacetyl was used in a popcorn factory where it made workers ill. The chemical was banned in Europe.

Talk to a Virginia Injury Lawyer About Vape Lung

Many questions remain about the causes of vape lung and which devices are responsible for this serious condition. We know vaping is exacting a terrible toll on hundreds of people but this may be the tip of the iceberg. If you have been harmed by e-cigarettes, you may have grounds to sue a manufacturer or a retailer. Please contact the Smith Law Center today at (757) 244-7000.

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If you or a relative had a severe reaction to military housing mold, it might be time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Mold is everywhere, and can be dangerous. Researchers have linked mold to serious respiratory illnesses in some individuals.

Smith Law Center may be able to help if a property owner failed to keep you safe from mold in your military housing. We are one of Virginia’s oldest and most successful firms. We know how to hold negligent property owners responsible, especially when the military is involved.

Call us at (757) 244-700 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. There’s no fee for learning more about Virginia mold laws, your rights, and your legal options.

Mold in Military Housing

Black mold in military housing became widely known when Reuters published an investigation in 2018. Since then, the Department of Defense and the housing providers were supposed to take steps to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, a 2020 audit by the DoD Office of Inspector General found many issues, including the need for mold remediation, still persist.

Monetary Awards in Military Housing Toxic Mold Cases

If the property owner lets toxic mold run wild and continue to cause you harm, talk with our toxic mold attorneys about filing a lawsuit.

You may receive financial compensation for:

Service members and their families do not receive different types of damages than civilians. These are civil lawsuits in traditional courts of law.

Military Housing Mold Toxicity Symptoms

The Institute of Medicine discovered there was evidence connecting exposure to indoor mold with:

  • Upper respiratory tract symptoms;
  • Coughing;
  • Wheezing;
  • Asthma symptoms in individuals with asthma; and
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals with weak immune systems.

There is also limited evidence that mold causes respiratory illnesses in healthy children or causes people to develop asthma.

Understanding Exposure to Toxic Mold in Military Housing

The topic of toxic mold is complicated. This Is in part because the term “toxic mold” isn’t accurate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains mold isn’t toxic or poisonous. However, some molds are toxigenic, which means they produce toxins called mycotoxins.

Mold is common in military housing because it’ll grow anywhere there’s moisture. That includes on and inside walls, carpet, upholstery, wallpaper, and heating and air conditioning systems. This is especially pronounced in humid conditions such as those present in Virginia.

Some people have no difficulties around mold, even large infestations in their homes. Other individuals are sensitive to molds, including those that produce mycotoxins. Someone can have a severe reaction when exposed to a large amount of mold indoors.

People may be more likely to experience mold toxicity symptoms if they have:

  • Allergies,
  • An underlying lung disease,
  • Immune suppression,
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder,
  • Asthma, or
  • Another chronic respiratory disease.

Common Types of Military Housing Mold

When you’re trying to learn more from the CDC and other resources, you’ll see the word “fungus” a lot. Mold is a type of fungus, which is something that exists all around us. Fungi are living organisms different from animals, plants, and bacteria. There are over 200,000 types of fungi and over 100,000 types of molds.

If you discovered mold in your military housing, it could be Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus, or many other types. Stachybotrys is what everyone knows as black mold. Aspergillus is a common indoor fungus, which releases mycotoxins and can cause illness. Your symptoms may resemble common allergy or asthma symptoms.

Who is Liable for Military Housing Mold?

Since 1996, most military housing has come under the management of private companies:

  • Belfour Beatty Communities: Fort Eustis and Fort Story/li>
  • Lincoln Military Housing: Dahlgren, Little Creek, Naval Station Norfolk, Northwest Annex, Oceana, Portsmouth, Quantico, and Yorktown/li>
  • Hunt Military Communities: Fort Lee and Langley AFB

Outside of Virginia, Lendlease and Corvias Military Living are two more housing providers. Together, these five companies formed the Military Housing Association.

Military families living in on-base housing must take their complaints to their private management company — not the military. The company is responsible for providing habitable conditions and making repairs, including mold remediation.

If you’re unsure about your rights, review your state law and local ordinances about mold. In general, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a habitable unit, which means it has to be safe to live in. A unit isn’t safe if it’s causing a tenant health issues due to mold.

The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to disclose if there’s mold in the written report of the move-in inspection. If a tenant discovers visible mold in the unit, then the Act requires the landlord to remove the mold and relocate the tenant until it’s gone at no additional cost to the tenant.

Unfortunately, many families find their housing providers aren’t receptive to complaints. Attorney Stephen M. Smith has handled many mold lawsuits against military housing providers who fail to abide by their lease terms and the law when it comes to mold remediation and other hazards.

Other Hazards in Military Housing

Many service members and their families deal with uncomfortable, if not hazardous, conditions in privatized military housing, including:

Lead Paint: Lead-based paint can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, organ damage, and in extreme cases, death.

Asbestos: Exposure to asbestos harms a person’s lungs, and can lead to lung fibrosis (scarring), lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Radon: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It naturally forms underground, however cracks and gaps in buildings lead to over-exposure indoors.

Poor Water Quality: Dozens of military sites have water with detectable levels of harmful chemicals.

Other issues involve rodent or insect infestations, pesticides, and faulty electrical wiring.

What Happens When a Lot of People Get Sick?

Sometimes mold exposure impacts a single individual or family. However, when the mold spreads throughout military housing, it can impact hundreds or thousands of people.

Occasionally, a large enough group of people are injured to allow for a class action or mass tort lawsuit. A class action lawsuit is one where a class representative acts as the plaintiff on behalf of the group of hurt individuals. Not every victim participates in the lawsuit. There are rules about when a group is big and similar enough to create a class action.

Mass tort lawsuits are different. When there are fewer plaintiffs who have their own set of circumstances, each person files a lawsuit. For efficiency’s sake, one or a couple of law firms may represent most plaintiffs, and the lawsuits are consolidated in a federal court.

Call the Military Housing Mold Lawyers at Smith Law Center for Help Right Away

Mold cases come about in a few ways. You or a loved one may start getting sick, and after weeks or months of struggling to find answers, you finally realize your military housing has a mold infestation. In other cases, you struggle with visible mold and then become ill.

Once you connect the illness with the mold, it’s time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Reaching out to an attorney early helps you build a strong compensation claim. We know how to collect evidence, identify who is liable, and craft a successful argument for a settlement or court award.

Attorney Stephen M. Smith has decades of experience handling injury claims and has been internationally recognized for his work. He has litigated cases involving catastrophic injuries and complex legal and scientific issues. In 2019, he was inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame.

You’re in good hands when you come to Smith Law Center for help. Reach out online or call (757) 244-7000 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

Military Housing Mold Lawsuits: FAQs

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