SD family $2M mil.housing award

In a decision that may have nation-wide consequences for private defense-contracted base-housing management companies, a jury awarded more than $2M to a Marine Corps family that sued their privatized military housing landlords over mold, maintenance and health-related issues in their Marine Corps Recruit Depot home in San Diego. The family of Staff Sgt. Matthew Charvat alleged that Gateway Village military housing, managed by San Diego Family Housing and Lincoln Military Property Management, had water damage and elevated moisture levels that caused microbes and mold to grow, making them sick, according to their complaint. It also indicated that the home "lacked effective waterproofing and weather protection," had deteriorating drywall, roof defects and rot, water damage and "visible microbial growth on the interior building components." As a result, the Charvats, and children, suffered a range of illnesses while living there about a year. Following a nearly month-long trial, the jury awarded the family $2M, according to 10News in San Diego. The award is the largest to a military family related to military housing issues, which came to light last year and made known to Congress. In 2016, another Marine Corps family received $350,000 in a similar lawsuit involving mold in a Norfolk, Va., home managed by Mid-Atlantic Military Family Communities, a subsidiary of Lincoln Military Housing. LHM plans to fight the ruling, according to Military.com, and called the ruling "unjust." Previous tenants reported no mold problems on the property, and the Charvats "certified there was no mold when they moved in," according to LHM. The management company alleges the Charvats vacated the property because they wanted to move into "the suburbs and a different school district." They never cited "mold or illness as a reason for moving until they hired a lawyer," LHM's statement charged. (Source: Military.com 09/12/19) Gulf Coast Note: Balfour Beatty manages housing at NAS Meridian and NCBC Gulfport; and Hunt properties manage housing at Keesler and Columbus AFBs. The closest base to the Gulf region operated by LMH is Marine Corps Logistics Base at Albany, Ga.