WAILUKU >> A clerk-typist has sued Maui County over injuries allegedly tied to a bad-air problem at a county building. Maui County sued
over office’s bad airBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comOlga Young has filed a lawsuit saying that while working in the Kalana Pakui Building in March 2001, she was exposed to toxic substances from the air-conditioning system, including the mold aspergillus niger.
Young is currently on authorized leave without pay, the county said.
In an interview in 2002, Young said she had acquired an autoimmune disease.
She said she first filed a complaint in 1999 with state health officials about the sick building.
Defendants include Oahu Air Conditioning Service Inc., the firm that allegedly installed, repaired and maintained the air-conditioning system.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 28, alleges Oahu Air Conditioning Service and other defendants were careless and negligent.
Company officials were not available to comment.
About 80 county employees were evacuated from the building in late February 2001.
The county eventually paid $455,000 to clean and renovate the building and install a new air-conditioning system.
County employees returned to the renovated building in May 2002.
A state health inspector said he was unable to conclusively determine the cause of bad-air complaints, partially because his inspection took place several weeks after the complaints and late notice of the problem.
County of Maui
