YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown couple has sued Great Value Storage, 123 S. Meridian Road, and an insurance company for mold and other damages to furniture and belongings that were in a storage unit.

The suit, filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, says Marcus Johnson and Star Hunt of North Dunlap Avenue discovered in April 2019 that their furniture and other property “were completely … damaged with mold, as there had been a water leak and mold was everywhere.”

The couple notified Great Value and filed a claim with Sage Insurance of Jacksonville for what they believe is $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage, the suit says. Great Value and the insurance company have refused to pay for the damage, the suit says.

The couple paid $111 per month for the storage and $10.95 per month for a protection plan with Sage, the suit says.

A call to Great Value Storage was not returned. A call to a company in Jacksonville connected to Sage Insurance did not allow for a message to be left.

The transaction between the couple and Great Value was a consumer transaction as defined in Ohio law and therefore subject to the protections of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practice Act, the suit says.

As a result, the couple is entitled to three times its actual damages, court costs and reasonable attorneys fees under the act, the suit says.

A copy of the contract between the couple and Great Value says losses caused by flood, surface water, underground water or water backups are not covered by Great Value’s protection plan, which covers $2,000 of damage. But the agreement says Great Value would be liable for damages caused by its negligence, such as water damage caused by failing to repair a roof.

The suit was filed by attorney Matthew Giannini of Youngstown.

erunyan@tribtoday.com