Ex-'NYPD Blue' Star Settles Mold Case

June 6, 2004

LOS ANGELES - Actor Nicholas Turturro has settled a lawsuit against a man who sold him a home in 2002 allegedly infested with toxic mold, lawyers said.

Turturro, who played Detective James Martinez on ABC's "NYPD Blue" from 1993-1998, claimed in the suit that Steven A. Berman of suburban Woodland Hills knowingly sold him a house in nearby Tarzana that had mold problems and "numerous material defects."

Arizona lawyer Stuart Berman, who represented his son in the case, said the suit was settled without any admission of guilt because the case was causing his son emotional difficulties.

A Coldwell Banker real estate franchise had also been named a defendant in the suit. Attorney Bruce M. Thornton, who represented Coldwell Banker, denied any wrongdoing by the company.

Turturro's lawyer, John Antoni, confirmed that the case was settled but made no other comment, citing a confidentiality agreement.