A Mount Pleasant apartment complex called Oyster Park must still pay a mother and daughter $1 million after losing its appeal in a black mold lawsuit.

The South Carolina Court of Appeals refused to change the jury’s decision, which said the complex was negligent in how it handled the family’s mold complaints and the original verdict from a Charleston County jury stays in place.

According to court records and legal news reports, Karolina and Krista Richardson moved into the Oyster Park Apartments in May 2017.
Within a couple of months, both women began to suffer serious breathing problems, even though neither had a history of asthma.​

Karolina already had Meniere’s Disease, a disorder of the inner ear, and the mold exposure reportedly made her symptoms worse, causing headaches, dizziness, and nausea.​

The women said they saw signs of mold in their unit and told the management several times that the apartment was making them sick.​
After “multiple demands,” the owners finally hired a lab to test the unit.

The test results showed “significantly elevated levels” of mold, especially types called Penicillium and Aspergillus, which often grow in damp indoor spaces.​

Their lawyer said this was not an isolated case.​

He explained that Oyster Park had received many complaints from other residents about mold since the complex opened in 2017.​
Evidence at trial also showed ongoing problems with water leaks and moisture, including roof leaks, window leaks, plumbing leaks, HVAC issues, and even flooding after heavy rain.​

The Richardsons were moved to another unit, but they said they kept having health issues and developed what their lawyer called “toxic mold disease.”​

They went through many medical treatments and argued in court that the apartments were not safe, even though management had told them the mold was gone and the units were habitable.​

The jury believed their story and awarded $1 million in 2022, with $850,000 for one plaintiff and $150,000 for the other.​

The apartment owners, Mt. Pleasant Square Associates II LLC, appealed the verdict to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
They argued that the jury had made mistakes and that they should not be held responsible for the full amount.​ However, in early March 2026, the appeals court rejected their arguments and let the original judgment stand.

News reports say the court agreed the evidence showed the complex did not act reasonably when dealing with the mold and water problems.​

Because of that, the $1 million award for the mother and daughter remains in place.​

The case is listed in Charleston County court records as Karolina Richardson and Krista Richardson v. Mt. Pleasant Square Associates II, LLC, et al., case number 2018‑CP‑10‑03286.