NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Lipscomb University is being sued by 11 students who say they were made sick by dangerous black mold in their dorm rooms.
In a 123-page lawsuit, students living in the university-owned dormitories say they began to accept that "persistent condensation, damp air, musty odors, and unexplained illness" were part of dorm life.
According to the lawsuit, rooms became so humid that belongings warped and walls would not hold decorations.
The lawsuit alleges, “Students reported becoming chronically ill while living in these dormitories, experiencing fatigue, headaches, respiratory symptoms, cognitive impairment, and other serious health issues that interfered with their ability to attend class, study, sleep, function, and enjoy college life. Parents raised concerns, requested testing, and sought transparency. Rather than identifying and correcting the underlying building conditions, the University minimized complaints, attributed problems to student behavior, and limited or delayed meaningful investigation.”
According to the lawsuit, despite knowledge of poor ventilation and recurring mold problems in Elam Hall, Fanning Hall and Johnson Hall, the University continued to assign female students to these dormitories.
The lawsuit also alleges that the university did not adopt campus campus-wide mold prevention and remediation protocols until November 5, 2025.
Attorney John Griffith said, “Lipscomb University administrators long knew or should have known that these dorm rooms were unsafe for human habitation. Reports of pervasive toxic mold on campus are not a recent concern but have been consistent part of student life. These students and their families have suffered tremendously — and their health, educational progress and financial situations all have been harmed.”
Lipscomb University provided the following statement regarding the lawsuit:
Lipscomb University takes these allegations seriously, and we are deeply committed to the well-being of our students. Based on our initial review, this case is egregiously overstated. Lipscomb University has established and follows strict protocols, consistent with EPA guidance and industry standards, for addressing suspected mold concerns. We have worked diligently to maintain a safe and healthy living environment for all students and will continue to do so. Confident in the steps we have taken, we will vigorously defend against these claims. Even as we address these allegations, we remain focused on our mission of preparing students for lives of purpose through rigorous academics and transformative experiences.
As this matter proceeds, the University will respect the legal process and will not comment on the specifics of the litigation beyond the information provided in the statement above.
NewsChannel 5 has reached out to Lipscomb University for a comment and are waiting to hear back.
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