Another Meth Nightmare As Recent Homebuyers Walk Away From Home After Discovering Toxic Residue In Home; Leaves Lender With Contaminated Collateral

In Grapevine, Texas, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports the story of the Rodriguez family, whose purchase of a home last October quickly turned from a dream into a nightmare:

• It didn’t take long for them to regret their purchase. Just weeks after they moved in, their dog, Bruin, started having seizures and had to be put to sleep. After the dog’s sudden death, they began to hear rumors that methamphetamine may have been used in their house. The couple hired a company to check the house for chemicals and discovered traces of meth contamination. While the cause of the dog’s death was not determined, the couple believe their house is not safe to live in.

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• The Rodriguezes, who have three children, are now renting about a block away while they figure out what to do with the 1,430-square-foot house, which is under foreclosure.

• Experts say methamphetamine contamination of apartments, hotel rooms, houses, storage sheds and even cars is more common than people may imagine. Meth-making or heavy use can leave chemicals in carpets, air ducts and attics. And without proper cleanup, experts say, the chemicals linger and expose people to health risks.

For the rest of the story, see Meth left a residue of trouble for Grapevine home buyers (After dog dies, family moves out as tests reveal traces of drug in Grapevine house).

In a related story, see The National Law Journal: Meth Lab Residue in Homes Triggers Litigation (Lawsuits over contaminated homes focus on failure to disclose issue).

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