Buyers of Former Meth Homes Battle Ailments, File Suits
Possibly tens of thousands of homes have been used to make methamphetamine, causing health problems and financial worries for new owners and unsuspecting landlords.
The New York Times chronicles the problems of homeowners Rhonda and Jason Holt, whose three babies became listless and struggled with breathing problems after they bought a home in Winchester, Tenn. Rhonda Holt battled migraines and her husband had kidney problems.
Later, the Holts learned their home was contaminated with methamphetamine from the previous occupant, and it would cost them $30,000 to clean up the mess. Now Rhonda Holt is working two jobs to pay for the remediation.
At least one unsuspecting homeowner who bought a meth home filed suit against the seller, a real estate agent who bought the home in Stow, Ohio, at a sheriff’s sale before reselling it. Homeowner Andrea Wagner, a single mom, developed eczema and her children had skin rashes and breathing problems after they moved in.
The family quickly left when Wagner discovered the home had been used to make meth, the Akron Beacon Journal (PDF) reported last year. The case later settled under confidential terms, Wagner’s lawyer, Warner Mendenhall, told the ABA Journal.
Mendenhall, who practices in Akron, based his suit on a state law requiring sellers of properties to disclose hazardous materials. After the case drew publicity, Akron and Summit County, Ohio, passed new laws requiring property titles to indicate whether homes have ever contained a meth lab, Mendenhall told the ABA Journal.
The National Law Journal covered Mendenhall’s case and other suits in a story published last year.
