Chronic Carbon Monoxide Exposure: Shakhnis Law Secures $345,000 for Mother and Son Living in Dangerous Rental Home

For over a year, a mother and her young son lived unknowingly in a home filled with invisible danger — low levels of carbon monoxide seeping into their living space day after day. The symptoms crept in gradually: headaches, chest pain, nausea, memory loss, heart palpitations. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint a cause. The connection wasn’t obvious. But the truth was lurking behind the gas wall furnace in their rental unit — a neglected, unmaintained source of toxic carbon monoxide that the property owner had ignored for far too long.

At Shakhnis Law, we fought to uncover the truth — and we won.

Recently, our firm secured a $345,000 settlement on behalf of this family, delivering long-overdue justice for the pain and uncertainty they endured at the hands of a negligent landlord.

A Hidden Threat Ignored by the Landlord

The case began like so many of our tenant rights cases do — with a landlord who failed to take even the most basic precautions to protect the health and safety of their tenants. In this instance, the gas wall furnace at the property had not undergone any preventative maintenance. It was neither inspected nor cleaned, despite clear guidelines for routine upkeep of fuel-burning appliances.

Eventually, the danger became undeniable: The Gas Company shut down the furnaces, deeming them hazardous due to excessive carbon monoxide production and improper venting of toxic exhaust fumes. But by then, the damage to the family’s health had already been done.

A Challenging Case with No Easy Answers

Unlike acute carbon monoxide poisoning incidents, this family had been exposed to low levels of CO over a prolonged period. Chronic exposure presents a host of challenges from both a medical and legal standpoint. The mother and son had been suffering for months before they realized their symptoms might be linked to their environment.

They sought emergency medical care — but too late to capture carboxyhemoglobin levels in their blood, a critical indicator of carbon monoxide exposure. Worse yet, the landlord replaced the faulty furnace before it could be tested, erasing a key piece of physical evidence.

Many firms would have walked away from a case this difficult.

We did not.

Building a Case with Expert Evidence and Relentless Advocacy

At Shakhnis Law, we believe that just because a case is difficult doesn’t mean justice shouldn’t be pursued. We assembled a team of medical and environmental experts to help piece together the puzzle. We reviewed the family’s medical records, studied the patterns of their symptoms, and analyzed the timeline of their exposure. Ultimately, our team marshalled enough evidence to prove that no other explanation made more sense than chronic carbon monoxide poisoning.

And when faced with this undeniable truth, the defendants agreed to a substantial settlement: $345,000 for the mother and son whose lives were upended by preventable harm.

Fighting for Tenants Living in Dangerous Conditions

This case reflects the core mission of our firm. At Shakhnis Law, we are proud to stand up for tenants who have been ignored, mistreated, and endangered by landlords who cut corners and prioritize profits over people.

We fight for:

• The family living in unsafe and unhealthy housing
• The child poisoned by lead paint in her home
• The parent injured by a dangerous condition in their apartment
• The elderly relative left alone in an unheated unit
• The tenant exposed to invisible toxins like carbon monoxide
• The renter illegally evicted or locked out of their home

Landlords have a legal and moral obligation to provide habitable, safe, and healthy housing. When they fail to do so — and when their negligence leads to suffering — they must be held accountable. And when the odds are stacked against you, Shakhnis Law is here to help level the playing field.

Were You or a Loved One Exposed to Carbon Monoxide in a Rental Property?

Carbon monoxide poisoning is often silent and invisible — but its effects can be devastating. If you or someone in your family has suffered unexplained health issues in a rental unit, it may be more than just bad luck. Let us help you find answers.

Contact Shakhnis Law today for a confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your story, investigate your case, and help you understand your rights as a tenant under California law.