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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">The only time I had to bring in the industrial hygienist was when I actually had litigation and the tenant had an attorney. Would not typically need one for the garden-variety mold equals no rent defense. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">It's something to keep in the your toolbox so that when the defense does appear because they got their handy-dandy Home Depot test results back that you can pushback as to the unreliability of those types of tests.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a">Please note that effective May 15, 2015, my new address is 7 South Howard St., Suite 218, Spokane, WA 99201. All other contact information remains the same.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><img width="86" height="130" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D0A8D3.CD319950" align="left" hspace="12"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Robert R. Rowley</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> | Attorney at Law</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">7 S. Howard St, Suite 218</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Spokane, WA 99201</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Telephone: (509) 252-5074</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Mobile: (509) 994-1143</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Facsimile: (509) 928-3084</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Email: </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"><a href="mailto:rob@rowleylegal.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">rob@rowleylegal.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Web Site: </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"><a href="http://www.rowleylegal.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">www.rowleylegal.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Practice concentrated on business, real estate and general legal matters in Washington and Idaho.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rowleylegal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:image008.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-rowley/11/172/b20"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image009.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/ROBERTRROWLEY"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image010.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-r-rowley-spokane"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="43" height="21" id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image011.jpg@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">NOTICE: The contents of this message and any attachments may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable protections. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender and promptly delete the message. Thank you for your assistance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222">DISCLAIMER: You should recognize that responses provided by e-mail means are akin to ordinary telephone or face-to-face conversations and do not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion. A formal opinion may very well reach a different conclusion.</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> Oscar Yang, Esq. [mailto:<a href="mailto:oscar.yang@esberrylaw.com">oscar.yang@esberrylaw.com</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 17, 2015 7:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:rob@rowleylegal.com">rob@rowleylegal.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Mold in Rental Unit</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Hello Rob--</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">I agree to your answer-- I have met so many tenants who use molds as excuses for getting anything they want from the landlords, but the court's response seems quite lukewarm at most when the tenants are 2-3 months behind their rents (Hint: it is not the first time that the court sees a similar case). </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Do you ever feel any need to bring in a certified industrial hygienist unless the tenant brings in some evidence that shows health concerns? I thought the burden of proof was initially on the tenant. Also, how much money does one usually budget for hiring such?</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Kind regards,</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Oscar Yang</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Managing Attorney</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">ES BERRY LAW PC</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Wed, 17 Jun 2015 07:34:04 -0700, Rob Rowley <<a href="mailto:rob@rowleylegal.com">rob@rowleylegal.com</a>>:</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:4.8pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">A couple of years ago I had a bench trial involving mold where I represented a landlord in a residential eviction. Also have had numerous cases over the decades where residential tenants will raise mold as a defense to nonpayment of rent. Usually can work out the issue. I usually press them to explain to me why they are fighting so hard to live in a place where it is “uninhabitable" according to the tenant. A little disingenuous for them to argue that to the court.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">I always point out the fact that the state Department of Health has a handout for mold which clearly states that mold is common and is in every residence. In other words, it's not as big a deal as it is on the Internet and urban legend. <a href="http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Contaminants/Mold">http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Contaminants/Mold</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">If you ever do have one of these case then you really need to bring in very early a certified industrial hygienist (expensive) who has the appropriate national certifications and runs proper testing. As opposed to the $29.95 test that the tenants run themselves that they get from Home Depot. All kinds of testing biases and other testing issues that come up with these tests. Tenants routinely think that these tests are a slam-dunk.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a">When I first started practicing over 21 years ago I remember that “mold litigation” was supposed to be the great new tort and all landlords were going to get bankrupted over the claims. I have yet to see one of these claims ever get any traction in the courts (at least in Eastern Washington-can't speak for the Westside). I have yet to see a healthcare provider that is willing to give causation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a">Please note that effective May 15, 2015, my new address is 7 South Howard St., Suite 218, Spokane, WA 99201. All other contact information remains the same.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><img width="86" height="130" src="cid:image012.jpg@01D0A8D3.CD319950" align="left" hspace="12"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Robert R. Rowley</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> | Attorney at Law</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">7 S. Howard St, Suite 218</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Spokane, WA 99201</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Telephone: (509) 252-5074</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Mobile: (509) 994-1143</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Facsimile: (509) 928-3084</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Email: </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"><a href="mailto:rob@rowleylegal.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">rob@rowleylegal.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Web Site: </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"><a href="http://www.rowleylegal.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">www.rowleylegal.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">Practice concentrated on business, real estate and general legal matters in Washington and Idaho.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rowleylegal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image008.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-rowley/11/172/b20"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image009.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/ROBERTRROWLEY"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image010.gif@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-r-rowley-spokane"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="43" height="21" id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image013.jpg@01D0A8D3.CD319950"></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#44546a">NOTICE: The contents of this message and any attachments may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable protections. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender and promptly delete the message. Thank you for your assistance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222">DISCLAIMER: You should recognize that responses provided by e-mail means are akin to ordinary telephone or face-to-face conversations and do not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion. A formal opinion may very well reach a different conclusion.</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#44546a"> </span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><div id="M2Signature"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">-- </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">DISCLAIMER FROM ES BERRY LAW PC: This e-mail contains proprietary information some of which may be legally privileged, confidential or protected. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to it and delete it. This email is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. 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