Calif. Defense Verdict for Mold Remediator, Home Insurer

SANTA ANA, Calif. - An Orange County (Calif.) Superior Court jury has found for a mold remediator and home insurer who were accused by homeowners of causing extensive mold damage by their responses to a bathroom leak. Blessley v. Fire Insurance Exchange, et al., No. 07CC09154 (Calif. Super. Ct., Orange Cty.).

In concluding a two-month trial, the jury on Oct. 30 rejected negligence claims against M&R Amalgam Inc. and Orange Restoration Inc., both doing business as ServiceMaster AAA Restoration, and bad faith and contract claims against Fire Insurance Exchange.

H. Webb Blessley and Donna Blessley alleged that ServiceMaster failed to …