Mold at Marina del Rey Condo Complex Made Him Ill, Ex-State Senator Alleges

MARINA DEL REY, CA - Former state senator and Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden sued a Marina del Rey condominium complex Friday, alleging a water leak into his unit developed into mold that made him ill.

Holden's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against the Marina City Club alleges breach of contract, negligence, premises liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Other defendants in the suit include the Marina City Club Condominium Owners Association, which Holden formerly headed.

The 87-year-old plaintiff seeks unspecified damages.

A representative for the Marina City Club, which has about 600 units in three towers, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The suit states that water constantly leaked into Holden's condominium from a neighbor's unit, eventually forcing him to relocate in July 2015 after 20 years. At that time, he began to have health problems that he believed were related to the water seepage, according to his complaint.

"He was hospitalized after becoming extremely ill when simply attempting to retrieve documents from the ... premises, despite only entering ... for a few minutes," the suit states.

Investigations into the unit's water damage showed the presence of toxic black mold, as well as "significant moisture and water damage," according to Holden's court papers.

A number of such leaks and mold have been reported at the complex.

The former politician's symptoms include "oxygen deficiency," which is related to exposure to high concentrations of mold spores, his suit states.

Holden served in the state senate from 1974-78 and represented the 10th District on the City Council from 1987-2002.

-- City News Service