To: The West Virginia State House, The West Virginia State Senate, Governor Jim Justice, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Donald Trump

WV Homeowners Insurance Loss and Coverage

WV Homeowners Insurance needs to cover mold and water damage.

Why is this important?

We have been homeowners and carried State Farm insurance for 18 years. Now we are being denied coverage for a leaking and rotted roof that has caused significant water and black toxic mold damage throughout our home. Not to mention, causing our family major health issues... to name a few in particular: Lymphoma cancer (my teenage daughter and several pets, through the years). My daughter was diagnosed at only 15 with Burkitt's Lymphoma, stage IV (which is linked to mono, EBV, mosquitoes, dampness, and mold). She is now infertile for the rest of her life, as the tumors consumed both her ovaries. My son, diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (a form of Autism) at age 5, Scoliosis and Stenosis of the spine, and a fractured pelvis at only 14 due to weakened bones. We have all experienced (some currently are) depression and extreme weight loss. Millions of dollars in medical bills, loss of work, inability to work, memory loss, nerve loss, thyroid problems, insomnia, PTSD, Anxiety, psychological and suicidal tendencies, gall bladder & kidney/bladder infections, severe migraine headaches...

The list goes on. I stopped smoking cigarettes in May 2016; smelled the mold about a week after. On June 7, 2016, I filed the first of 4 claims. Each time the adjusters came out, they found more damage. I was told by one that our roof has been this way since our home was built in 1994. Yet he refused to document it so I could give to my lawyer. We started looking for a temporary home, as the mold damage experts advised us it was "uninhabitable". My lawyer informed me (without a doubt) we have a case. I was told not to contact State Farm, don't communicate with them, don't sign anything. I wasn't contacted by my lawyer for over 5 weeks. We had to live in a tent in our front yard, in the sweltering 90°+ temps, for 11 long, hot weeks. My daughter was in remission for only 6 short months. Due to my negligence, I deposited 2 checks from State Farm (in fear of losing them in a tent) and was "terminated" (accepting payment means the work was to be completed and received for services rendered).

We have contacted numerous lawyers, but nobody will help us. We have been paying costly (out-of-pocket) home repairs and travel expenses to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. We are now being threatened to lose everything we've worked so hard for due to possible total income AND medical coverage loss. Why do we pay for homeowners insurance if it doesn't cover what it should? Yes, I understand WV Homeowners Insurance doesn't cover mold damage. But if it's significant damage and rot caused by 22 years of continuous leaking? Who's to blame?