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Collister Investigates

$20 million lawsuit over mold in schools

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Updated: 9/20/2012 2:01 pm
SAN ANTONIO - Harlandale Independent School District is suing the company that installed $20 million in air conditioning units in 10 of its campuses.

As I first reported back in 2008, Harlandale has been battling mold and mildew in these schools since the Trane air conditioning units were installed as part of the 2001 Bond program. Equipment and flooring has been replaced because the air conditioning units are bringing in outside humidity.

The district said this in a statement: “The claims against the Trane Company relate to the District’s dissatisfaction with design, installation and performance of HVAC Trane equipment installed at various District facilities and the District’s dissatisfaction with an associated energy management and maintenance contract entered into by the parties.”

Campuses affected include:

• Harlandale High School
• McCollum High School
• Harlandale Middle School
• Kingsborough Middle School
• Leal Middle School
• Terrell Wells Middle School
• Carroll Bell Elementary
• Scheh Elementary
• Vestal Elementary
• The Fenley Center

I called the local office for Trane, but have not heard back. In 2008, the company claimed it had installed what Harlandale asked for and was working on a solution.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

Danielle Marie - 9/21/2012 8:44 AM
0 Votes
I went to Harlandale High School 04-08 and it always was either freezing or humid. The acs bringing in the humid air makes sense now, ha. They've rebuilt so much since then.

Ridonkulous - 9/20/2012 5:56 PM
2 Votes
$20 million in AC. At my school we had open windows and wall mounted oscillating fans.

Talula - 9/20/2012 12:29 PM
3 Votes
These school building are probably built airtight with No Windows? Great way to encourage mold, etc..

GoGo1971 - 9/20/2012 11:37 AM
0 Votes
Nothing will get get done about this. We won't hear anything else about this story.

Cheryl Wisecup - 9/20/2012 8:15 AM
0 Votes
Mold can cause serious health problems. For accurate information about the health effects of mold, go to http://truthaboutmold.info and check out the Global Indoor Health Network at http://globalindoorhealthnetwork.com. Be sure to read GIHN's position statement that discusses the diagnosis and treatment of illness caused by mold.

ABC123 - 9/20/2012 8:05 AM
4 Votes
"..the company claimed it had installed what Harlandale asked for and was working on a solution." So if I asked them to install the a/c units upside down and backwards with the electrical connections not grounded they would do it? That's the worst excuse I've heard in awhile.
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