FAMILY ABANDONS HOUSE; SUES DEVELOPER OVER WOES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Her son was no more than a few weeks old when Vicki Collier rushed him to the hospital. He was suffering from meningitis, the first of a litany of health problems that Collier blames on the mold growing inside her house.

``At first I didn't even know what mold was,'' said Collier, a mother of two. ``I couldn't believe it could cause us to be so sick.''

After family members suffered such maladies as asthma, allergic reactions, colds and a parasitic infection called Giardia, Collier in 1997 sued the developer of her home, The Newhall Land and Farming Company, alleging negligence, liability and breach of warranty.

The family abandoned the house 18 months ago, leaving their belongings behind.

Attorneys for Newhall Land declined to comment on the case.

Collier doesn't believe her problem is an isolated one in Valencia's Northbridge neighborhood. She and others wonder if they're living on a high water table with underground springs seeping to the surface and creating constant moisture that harbors mold growth.

Another resident has reported mold growing in a closet and still another neighbor has lost 19 pounds after suffering from Giardia, related to tainted water.

A walk along Philbrook Avenue is evidence of natural improprieties.

Water running constantly along the sidewalk is laced with fungus, nails are rusting, and standing water can be seen outside the homes of several of the Colliers' neighbors.

Collier's complaints began almost immediately after she moved in, according to her lawsuit. It would be years later that similar health problems surfaced among children and a teacher at a nearby elementary school.

No signs of toxic molds have been found at Helmers Elementary School at the end of her street, but nonpoisonous molds that health officials say can be allergenic were found inside two classrooms.

``You think of the two safest places for you and your children as a school and your home,'' said Collier. ``Then you realize maybe you're wrong.''

Earlier this month, the State Department of Health Services conducted tests for hazardous chemicals at Helmers and other schools in the Saugus Union School District but found that none of the classrooms had elevated levels of any toxins.

Worried that other parents may not know the source of the illnesses, Collier spoke at a school board meeting and warned parents about health hazards in their homes.

``I got up and I told them to go and check their homes,'' said Collier, who has a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.

The first sign that something was wrong came in 1993, when the linoleum in her downstairs bathroom became discolored a few months after the family bought the new house.

``I thought it was cheap linoleum and the concrete kept showing through,'' Collier said. ``There were gray spots all over it.''

Twice the builder replaced the flooring.

On the third attempt to correct the problem, a worker removed the layers of linoleum to find them infested with mold, she said.

Other defects soon became more apparent, including plumbing problems, with sewage around the toilets, water invading the foundation of their home and standing water nearly surrounding their house.

``Our back yard was like a swamp,'' said Collier.

Collier finally called the Machado Environmental Corp., in February 1997 to test for molds.

``They found five different types of mold,'' said Collier. ``There was even some growing in my son's bedroom.

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Photo

Photo: (Color) Vicki Collier, her husband and kids Amanda, 5, and Sean, 3, moved out of their Santa Clarita home after discovering mold growth.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News