TESTIMONIALS
The Smith Law Center is honored when someone stops to take the time to say thank you. We would like to express our appreciation by including some of your comments on our website.
… your firm is personally responsible for taking what was a horrible tragedy and transforming it into a legacy…
Dear Gentlemen,
I would like to thank your firm for representing our family on behalf of my late husband. This whole process was, at times, difficult for us and sometimes painful. But, we were always in good hands as Stephen and Howard are two of the hardest working and sincerest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. They did a tremendous job.
I am so grateful for the compensation we received. This will give us the opportunity to do some positive things in his memory, and for the first time in 18 years I have a sense of closure and the peace of mind that we did everything we could to see that there was some form of accountability.
I really can’t thank you, and your entire staff, enough for caring so much and seeing to it that the sacrifice my late husband made was not in vain. You and the members of your firm are personally responsible for taking what was a horrible tragedy and transforming it into a legacy that he would be very proud of. You have my deepest respect and admiration.
Kindest regards,
…His style of representation was impeccable, classy, and he cleverly executed every facet of the case…
Dear Smith Brothers:
This letter is to thank your firm, specifically Mr. Stephen M. Smith for representation that was above and beyond what I expected to receive. Mr. Smith was clever, extremely professional, comforting, and always kept us informed during the process. It was apparent to me that he cared about the outcome almost as much as I did. His style of representation was impeccable, classy, and he cleverly executed every facet of the case.
I was proud to have him as my lawyer. We felt comforted by his portrayal of experience and knowledge. Throughout the trial, Mr. Smith spent his evening hours preparing for the next day. He was protective, well prepared, thorough, convincing, and always accurate. I could see that the jurors had respect for him and what he had to say. Even the defense attorney, insurance adjuster, and judge complimented his strong, classy representation, and show of experience.
Mr. Smith did everything he promised and more. He comforted me when I was worried, and fought hard for me. He was my friend. I have already recommended a co-worker to The Smith Law Center and will speak very highly of your firm when asked about my case for years to come. Mr. Smith is truly and asset to your firm, as he is a terrific person and attorney. Thanks for excellent representation.
Sincerely yours,
… I really can’t thank you enough for securing the damages to which I was entitled…
Hi Howard:
I just wanted to let you know that I received my settlement check yesterday and to thank you again for working with me on this matter.
After sustaining injuries from a car accident that wasn’t my fault and then having to spend $8,000 of my savings to replace my car, it was very frustrating to hear from two separate attorneys that I had no grounds for filing suit. I’ll always be thankful that I happened to see The Smith Law Center on Facebook during that time and decided it was worth one more phone call. I really can’t thank you enough for securing the damages to which I was entitled.
As I mentioned earlier in the week, I certainly hope that none of my friends ever has a need to file suit for personal injury but, if they do, I will absolutely recommend you to them. Thanks again, Howard, and have a wonderful summer…
Best Regards,
…I am beyond grateful for their caring manner, their legal prowess, and their attention to detail…
Dear Sirs,
My car accident in 2015 changed my life drastically. My cognitive function was hugely impaired. The headaches were quite severe. There was a ray of hope when I contacted The Smith Law Center. Every one of my phone calls was met with reassurance; I felt supported beyond measure. Although I don’t ever want to be in this predicament again, I will say that my attorney and his team made the process a great deal smoother than I ever imagined. I am beyond grateful for their caring manner, their legal prowess, and their attention to detail.
Now that I possess the final settlement check, I can put this event behind me. I have a sense of closure and peace of mind. Thanks to the efforts of this dynamic team, I have peace of mind. If I ever need an attorney again, the Smith Law Center will be my one and only contact. I shall recommend your firm highly without reservation.
I remain eternally grateful
Sincerely
Dear Mr. Smith
Although this card is rather small, the “Thank You” isn’t small at all… You will never know what this money has meant to us. It does not remove the affects of the stroke, but makes things somewhat better…
The respect you displayed towards me was overwhelming…
Thank you so much Stephen,
…For such a large firm, we received very personal care. We will always recommend you highly!…
Mr. Smith
I’m writing to thank you for doing such a great job winning my trial. I am very grateful to have met you and have you as my lawyer. I cannot imagine finding anyone better.
I am sorry I haven’t written this to you sooner, but I have not been able to think of the words to express my gratitude to you. “Thank you” just doesn’t seem like enough.
I just wanted to let you know that I received the envelope with the final paperwork and check. I wanted to thank you for all your help through the last couple of years and for being patient with me.
For such a large firm, we received very personal care. We will always recommend you highly! Top to bottom, everyone was great. You have helped put our lives back together.
Thank you again,





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SPEAK TO US NOW FOR FREE
Your legal questions answered, completely free of charge.
IF WE DON’T WIN, YOU DON’T PAY
There are absolutely no out-of-pocket fees for filing a claim.
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:
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
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
DELIVERING RESULTS SINCE 1949
We are one of Virginia’s largest and most successful law firms.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Use the simple form below to send a message directly to our lawyers. We will respond within 1 hour or less during business hours.