Science · Law · Advocacy
Toxic mold is a serious public health issue — and a legal one. For too long, courts have relied on outdated science to dismiss the claims of people who are genuinely suffering. This site exists to change that conversation.
Learn the Truth Meet VanessaWhy It Matters
Millions of Americans live and work in buildings with mold problems they don't know about. When exposure causes illness, victims often have legal recourse — in theory. In practice, courts have repeatedly relied on a single refrain: "There is no reliable scientific evidence."
That statement, recycled in case after case, no longer reflects what the science actually says. A landmark review of 114 epidemiological studies covering more than 73,000 participants found that 98% reported statistically significant associations between damp indoor environments and adverse health effects.
Beyond respiratory problems, newer research documents neurological damage, immune system disruption, and lasting cognitive effects — changes that can persist long after visible mold is removed, because of microscopic compounds called mycotoxins.
The legal system has been slow to catch up. This site is dedicated to closing that gap.
About the Author
Vanessa L. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and coordinator of the Legal Studies Program. In addition to her academic role, she is a licensed attorney, real estate broker, insurance agent, and multi-certified human resources professional in the state of Texas, with over 20 years of diverse professional experience.
Her academic work was shaped — in part — by personal experience. After being exposed to toxic mold in a previous workplace and encountering it in other professional settings, Professor Johnson began to notice a troubling pattern: the science on mold-related illness was advancing, while the law remained stuck in place.
"The broad assertion that no reliable scientific evidence exists is no longer accurate. The scientific record has evolved — and it is time the legal system caught up."
Professor Johnson earned her dual Master of Laws degrees (Health Law and Tax Law) and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center. Her MBA comes from NYU's Stern School of Business, and her undergraduate degree in Management from Tulane University's Freeman School of Business.
Her scholarship has appeared in the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, Corporate Counsel Review, the Notre Dame Journal of Legislation, and the UC Davis Business Law Journal. She is a graduate of Leadership Houston's Class XXIX and has served on the boards of numerous Houston-area nonprofits and civic organizations.
She writes and speaks to both legal and general audiences, and is the creator of the Mold Matters podcast (launching soon).
📍 University of Houston–Clear Lake, Office ST2224 | 281-283-3161 | Johnsonv@uhcl.edu
Academic Work
Vanessa L. Johnson · University of Houston–Clear Lake · 2025
This article argues that the long-standing legal claim that "no reliable scientific evidence" exists to support toxic mold causation is no longer accurate. Drawing on a comprehensive review of epidemiological and immunological research, it traces the evolution of the science — from early IOM and WHO reports to recent multi-system findings — and proposes a framework for courts to evaluate mold-related expert testimony in light of that progress.
Read the Full Paper →From the Blog
Defense attorneys have repeated the same phrase in toxic mold cases for two decades. A closer look at the evolving science shows why that argument should finally be retired — and what plaintiffs' attorneys can do about it.
Read MoreCleaning up visible mold is only half the battle. The toxic byproducts that certain molds produce can linger in building materials, personal belongings, and even inside the body. Here's what the latest research shows.
Read MoreEarly mold studies excluded immunocompromised individuals from their findings. But new research suggests the causal arrow may run the other direction: toxic mold exposure can itself cause immune dysfunction in people who were previously healthy.
Read MoreThe Podcast
A podcast about toxic mold — the science, the law, and the human stories that aren't getting told. Hosted by Professor Vanessa L. Johnson, Mold Matters will feature conversations with researchers, physicians, attorneys, and people whose lives have been upended by mold exposure.
Season One will dive deep into the causation problem in toxic tort law and what a more science-forward legal standard might look like. Subscribe wherever you listen so you don't miss the launch.