SEWANEE, Tenn. — Seven current and former students have sued the University of the South over toxic black mold in Johnson Hall, alleging that the university ignored complaints about the contaminated freshman dormitory during the 2024 school year and that the conditions caused students to fall seriously ill.
The 53-page lawsuit lists symptoms experienced by students including random nosebleeds, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, congestion, fever, asthma, anxiety, vomiting from repeated antibiotics, worsening asthma, sweating, and sleeplessness. Illness was so common in the dormitory that it became known among students as the “Johnson Cough.”
According to the lawsuit, independent testing found Penicillium/Aspergillus mold levels inside two students’ dorm rooms were 2,200 times higher than levels found outside the room. The university is accused of blaming other factors — open windows, dirty rooms, wild animals — rather than the toxic spores, and did not order a mold inspection until October 2024 under pressure from students’ families.
The students are seeking more than $35 million for negligence, gross negligence, willful and wanton conduct, breach of contract, and violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. They are represented by Just Well Law, PLLC of Austin, Texas.
Published September 25, 2025 by WSMV4 Nashville. Read the full article.