Court of Appeals rejects claim of former Sullivan North High teacher’s assertion of black mold cover-up

A case brought by a former Sullivan County, Tennessee vocational teacher who said black mold in his classroom gave him long-term health problems has been dismissed by the Court of Appeals.

Michael Upchurch had sued the Board of Education and various officials for $21 million in 2019. He testified that he discovered black mold in the drop ceiling of his teaching space at Sullivan North High School and samples he had independently tested confirmed his claim.

“When I found this mold in the ceiling, I mean, it was just growing right on the wall where the ceiling tile had been rotted out from water damage. It wasn’t like I had to be a super sleuth to find it,” Upchurch said while representing himself during the appeal hearing.

Former Sullivan County schools Director Evelyn Rafalowski reported test results conducted by their contractors revealed no trace of mold spores in the four areas of Sullivan North.

Upchurch could appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

(IMAGE: GM)