Mold relief? The tide of mold lawsuits in Texas may be turning, thanks to a combination of legal factors--and time.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Texas Association of Builders)(Brief Article)

Builder, April, 2004 by Power, Matthew

Once the epicenter of mold litigation, Texas has seen a calming of both lawsuits and consumer fear about mold. While no exact figures on the current docket of cases pending are available, Texas builders tell us they feel the pressure lifting.

Ray Dyer, director of regulatory affairs for the Texas Association of Builders in Austin, says several factors have worked to cool "what some 2have dubbed hysteria" about mold in recent years. He adds, however, that builders should still "consider mold issues extremely serious."

Another Austin-based custom builder, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that one big reason mold litigation has slowed can be traced to home insurance companies. Most every policy now includes a clause that rejects claims related to...