Desperate for help, Lynn family claims toxic mix caused respiratory illnesses

LYNN – A Lynn family is alleging in Northeast Housing Court that their landlord at the Marian Gardens apartments ignored pleas to remove toxic mold and caused them to suffer respiratory illnesses and neurological problems.The federally subsidized apartment occupied by Michael Lyons, 23, his pregnant girlfriend, Nina Olson, 22, and their 7-month-old son, Michael Lyons Jr., is unfit for human habitation, according to their attorney, Michael Cerulli of Lynn.Olson is expecting twins in February. Hoping to avoid further medical complications, she and her boyfriend and infant son are living at the Curwin Circle public housing with Lyons’ mother, Lisa Lyons.”This has been going on for a long time,” Lisa Lyons said Monday as she pointed to mice droppings and fringes of mold on the refrigerator, walls and baseboards inside Unit 22 on Flint Lane within Marian Gardens.”Obviously, the landlord and the management company just don’t care,” she said. “I’m afraid for all of them, especially my little grandson.”Michael Lyons, who has lived in the three-bedroom apartment for more than 20 years, has filed a court complaint against Marian Gardens Limited Partnership and MB Management of Braintree.The company did not return calls for comment Monday.A Dec. 7 hearing has been scheduled before Housing Court Judge David Kerman to discuss stipulations made concerning the case during a previous mediation session.Meanwhile, Michael Lyons is awaiting the results of testing by OccuHealth Inc. in Mansfield, a mold specialist hired by the landlord to determine if the growth in Unit 11 is toxic.”We can’t stay here until we know for sure,” Michael Lyons said. “And we can’t take any of our belongings with us because there could be toxic mold on them. There was mold in the bathroom, but they just painted over it.”Lisa Lyons said a clean-up crew might stir the mold and further contaminate the air, which would worsen the situation if the lab analysis shows the presence of toxic mold. “For now, everything has to stay here. I’m going out today to rent them a bed and I intend to charge it to the landlord,” she said.The Lynn Board of Health on Nov. 17 ordered MB Management to clean and sanitize Unit 22, particularly the walls, doors and ceilings. City inspectors also told the management company to hire an exterminator to rid the unit of mice.”The exterminator left them a mouse trap. Then the mice left more droppings and tore apart a Q-Tip box,” Lisa Lyons said.Attorney Lisa Gouveia from the Boston law firm Russo and Scolnick, which represents the landlord and management firm, did not return calls from The Daily Item.Cerulli asserted that mold is the culprit.”Mike has a lot of respiratory issues and so does his pregnant girlfriend. Their child is sick, but nobody is lifting a finger to help them,” the attorney said. “There have been previous violations from the Board of Health related to mice droppings on the property.”Cerulli said the mold test results could be available as early as today or Wednesday. “We’re not sure if the mold is toxic. The landlord is paying for the tests,” he said.Michael Lyons said he suffers from learning disabilities, is bipolar and afflicted with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As a result, he cannot work. Olson said their son has reactive airway disease and other respiratory problems.”My grandson isn’t the only one in Marian Gardens who has it. There are 96 units here and I know other kids are sick,” said Lisa Lyons, who lived in Unit 22 for seven years.Lisa Lyons’ mother lived in the same unit for 16 years.”This has been our family home for a long time and the mold has been here all along. Now the baby is getting sick and all the landlord does is tell us to clean it up,” she said Monday.Dr. Richard Lipman from Pediatric Health Care Associates in Salem examined the Michael Lyons Jr. last month. In an Oct. 21 letter, the doctor stated, “It is my opinion that continued exposure to toxic mold is aggravating his asthma and lung