POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County couple suffering from a dangerous mold found in their recreational vehicle has sued Camping World RV Sales located in Dover.
Rondal and Cheryl Jackson used to live part-time every year in their 2007 Damon Challenger RV. On June 22, 2017, when they were flight attendants for Southwest Airlines, they delivered their RV to Camping World, purchasing an annual maintenance agreement and requesting the installation of a satellite radio system and antenna, which was to be performed along with maintenance services.
They then returned the RV to their RV lot. For a few days before June 27, inclement weather appeared and caused rain. According to the lawsuit, the roof was penetrated with water, particularly where the satellite radio system and antenna were installed.
Water dripped into the cabinets and behind the RV’s entertainment center because an allegedly unnecessary hole was drilled for the satellite installation, despite a pre-existing factory wiring route. The lawsuit also states that when the installation was completed, no caulking or sealant was applied.
On June 29, the Jacksons drove back to Camping World and showed the water leak and damage while complaining maintenance and repair work was either done improperly or not at all.
The service manager and an employee of Camping World allegedly realized the damage the water caused and told the Jacksons to return the next day for removal and repair. However, Camping World’s position of accountability didn’t last long.
On June 30, when the Jacksons returned for repair of the water damage, the company changed its tune, saying the water damage was pre-existing. After a long discussion, both parties decided to hire a cabinet technician to assess the damage.
On July 7, the Jacksons delivered the RV to Camping World for the weekend, expecting, among other things, an assessment by the cabinet technician. But by July 9, nothing was done to the RV. Instead, Camping World prepared a “We Owe” work order of maintenance and repairs to be done, including repairing interior ceiling water damage.
They also indicated they wanted to conduct a mold test and then hired an environmental company to conduct an air quality assessment. On July 13, it was confirmed by the general manager to the Jacksons that mold existed “in the normal range.” The Jacksons believed management when they indicated it was safe to live in the RV.
On July 21, the Jacksons again returned for more repairs listed on the “We Owe” work order, only to be told there was a change in management with no agreement to make repairs caused by the allegedly shoddy satellite installation, despite the agreement to do so the previous day.
The Jacksons then drove to Kentucky to meet with the company’s vice president, Mike Simms, but he avoided them during their visit.
Ultimately, Camping World is accused of never fixing the improperly installed satellite system and antenna, removing the festering of mold, or completing the Jacksons’ annual maintenance check-up including replacing air filters and conducting a motor oil change.
The Jacksons’ attorney, Peter Ticktin of The Tickton Law Group in Deerfield Beach, Florida had much to say about the case.
“This is a million-dollar lawsuit of negligence, breach of contract and misrepresentation over an aeroallergenic fungi. We want a trial by jury…Rondal Jackson has heart problems to some extent. He has had edema in his legs for a long time. Cheryl has a dropped foot,” Ticktin explained. He also indicated that neither of the Jacksons are able to work.
The lawsuit details the Jackson’s additional ailments as permanent memory loss, skin lesions and neural issues including numbness in hands and feet. They experience asthma attacks, allergic reactions, hair loss, headaches, dental issues, fatigue and lethargy and inflammation of the sinuses. When Ticktin was asked if the Jacksons’ health ailments were reversible, he replied, “I don’t think so.”
The mold causing the Jackson’s ailment is claimed to be Chaetomium, a highly toxic contaminant that thrives in water.
Ticktin remarked that Florida attorneys are expected to increase their acceptance of mold cases. “In the past, mold cases haven’t been handled properly,” he said.
When asked if he thought Camping World’s attorney advised them to reject responsibility for the Jacksons’ problems, he replied, “Due to confidentiality, we will never know if it was the company’s management or attorney who decided to reverse accountability.”
Attempts were made to contact the corporate office of Camping World RV Sales, but no one could be reached.
Well, guess who’s NOT going to be shopping for their new RV at Camping World.
We had problems with camping world that n ever got solved and we had to pay someone to fix their f…. up in Richmond VA