Greensboro lead poisoning case against landlord settled

By Brian Cole

Published on April 17, 2006

The details of the agreement are confidential and still must be approved by a Superior Court Judge. The owner of the building has been fighting with the city of Greensboro for years over thousands of code violations on his low income properties.

Merissa Ayun, now 4, was found to have been poisoned by lead in the fall of 2004. Health inspectors determined it was caused by lead paint peeling in the apartment where her parents once lived. The Greensboro Housing Coalition said the unit has since been burned by a fire.

The lawsuit was brought by Merissa's court appointed guardian in February, 2005. It alleged that the owner of the property failed to fulfill their obligation to "provide fit, safe and habitable housing." and sought damages for Merissa's long term care and other medical treatments.

Merissa's lawyer, Phyllis Lile-King, would not comment on whether the agreement would accomplish that goal.

The residential use of lead paint has been illegal in the U.S. since 1978.

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