In a compelling legal battle that underscores the complexities of landlord-tenant relationships, Renee Burnes has filed a lawsuit against several defendants, including Samuel Katz, Zackary Goodman, Patrick Burand, Matthew Olszewski, and FLAinvest. The complaint was lodged in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida on December 31, 2024. Burnes accuses these parties of negligence resulting in personal injury and property damage due to mold contamination at her rented property.
Renee Burnes alleges that after entering into a residential lease on August 29, 2023, for a property located at 706 Warren Drive in Jupiter, Florida, she was exposed to hazardous living conditions. The lease term was set from December 15, 2023, to June 16, 2024. However, shortly after moving in December 2023, Burnes began experiencing health issues attributed to mold exposure within the premises. She claims that visible mold and water intrusion were evident throughout the house—conditions allegedly concealed by paint—and reported these issues to her landlords multiple times without adequate remediation.
Despite attempts by the defendants to address the mold problem by hiring a remediation company and temporarily relocating Burnes to a hotel for two days in March 2024, an independent inspection revealed ongoing unsafe levels of microbial growth and water intrusion. Consequently, Burnes vacated the premises on March 26, 2024. In her complaint, she asserts that her health suffered significantly due to prolonged exposure to toxic molds and seeks compensation for medical expenses as well as reimbursement for damaged personal property.
Burnes is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs. Her claims are grounded in accusations of negligence against the defendants for failing to disclose known defects or hazards within the rental property and neglecting their duty to repair these issues adequately before leasing it out. She contends that this negligence led directly to her adverse health effects and contaminated belongings.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Douglas R. Beam and Riley H. Beam from Douglas R. Beam P.A., based in Melbourne, Florida. The Case ID is: 502024CA012333XXXAMB Div: AG.