Sewanee Students Take Legal Action Against University Over Toxic Mold Exposure

Seven students, both current and former, from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, have filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that exposure to dangerous black mold in their dormitory has inflicted serious health issues upon them. These students allege that the university has not only failed to provide safe living conditions but has also ignored repeated complaints regarding toxic mold in Johnson Hall, the dormitory where they lived.

The lawsuit, filed recently in the Franklin County Circuit Court, details how the affected students began experiencing alarming health complications shortly after moving into the dormitory in 2024. Reports of health issues included random nosebleeds, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and emotional distress. Many of these students have experienced deterioration in their health that has affected their academic performance, causing them to miss classes and activities.

Lawyers from Just Well Law, PLLC, and Davis Davis, represent the plaintiffs. They outline in their 53-page complaint how complaints about the unsanitary living conditions and the consistent presence of mold in the dormitory have been overlooked for years. The lawsuit states, “Students have a right to expect that the university will provide safe and habitable housing, especially when they are paying significant tuition fees.” It further emphasizes that the issues at Johnson Hall have been recognized among the university community as a long-standing concern, leading to the dorm being jokingly referred to as the source of the