Pro Se Documentation
This page presents documented research compiled by Justin Horn, a pro se party, based on contemporaneous records and publicly available scientific literature. It is not legal advice and does not constitute the opinion of any attorney. Nothing herein should be construed as a legal conclusion or accusation. Readers seeking counsel should consult a qualified attorney in their jurisdiction.
The Basics
What off-gassing means in plain language
Off-gassing is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials as they age or break down. Think of it as chemicals evaporating out of solid objects into the air you breathe.
It happens with everyday materials: adhesives, tapes, insulation, paints, flooring, furniture, and sealants. Any manufactured product that contains chemical binders or solvents can off-gas.
The chemicals released include formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. Together, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene are known as BTEX compounds — a group of petroleum-derived chemicals recognized by the EPA as hazardous air pollutants.
At low concentrations in well-ventilated spaces, off-gassing is usually harmless. Your nose detects it, and the chemicals disperse. But when VOCs concentrate in an enclosed space with no ventilation, they become dangerous.
What Makes It Dangerous
When off-gassing becomes a health hazard
- Enclosed spaces with poor ventilation concentrate VOCs instead of allowing them to disperse. The chemicals accumulate with nowhere to go.
- Heat accelerates off-gassing exponentially. Higher temperatures cause adhesive layers to release chemicals faster. A material that off-gasses slowly at 70°F may release chemicals rapidly at 100°F+.
- Symptoms of VOC exposure: headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, difficulty sleeping, eye irritation, throat irritation, and brain fog.
- Prolonged exposure can cause chemical sensitization — a condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), where the body becomes permanently reactive to even trace amounts of chemicals.
- Acute high-concentration exposure can cause neurological symptoms, loss of consciousness, and requires emergency medical intervention.
What Happened at Unit 806
The sequence of events
The chemical exposure at Unit 806 was not a single accident. It was the result of a broken system left unrepaired for months, followed by a makeshift repair that created the exact conditions for concentrated off-gassing.
- Central HVAC breaks. The apartment's built-in heating and cooling system fails. Greystar, the property manager, never repairs it despite repeated requests. The unit has no operable ventilation.
- Portable AC installed as stopgap. With no functional HVAC and rising temperatures, a portable air conditioning unit is installed as a temporary measure.
- FSK tape wrapped around the exhaust hose. Foil-Scrim-Kraft (FSK) tape — a construction tape with adhesive layers — is wrapped around the portable AC's exhaust hose to seal gaps.
Here is where the chemistry becomes critical:
The mechanism
FSK tape contains adhesive layers designed for static installation in temperature-controlled environments. When heated, those adhesive layers off-gas BTEX compounds into the surrounding air.
The portable AC's compressor heated the taped junctions to 102–114°F, documented via FLIR thermal imaging on April 6, 2026. At those temperatures, the adhesive layer actively releases benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene into the sealed apartment.
The apartment had no operable ventilation — the central HVAC was broken. The VOCs had nowhere to go. They concentrated in the living space where Justin Horn slept, worked, and breathed.
The result: concentrated VOC exposure in a sealed, heated space, sustained over weeks.
The Evidence
Documented record of exposure and harm
- FLIR thermal imaging: 102–114°F at taped junctions on the portable AC exhaust hose. Documents the heat source driving off-gassing.
- Dr. Fabi physician letter: Documents symptoms consistent with airborne contaminant exposure. Medical confirmation of harm.
- IoT sensor data: Indoor temperature never entered a comfortable range (65–72°F) across 61 consecutive days. Confirms the HVAC was never repaired.
- ER Visit #1: Ambulance transport to hospital. Oxygen treatment administered. Two EMS responders reported dizziness in the building hallway.
- SERVPRO refused remediation: Professional remediation company assessed the unit and declined the job, stating it "exceeds residential scope."
- ER Visit #2: Neurological symptoms. Prescribed Meclizine 25mg for vestibular dysfunction caused by chemical exposure.
Why This Matters Legally
Documented conditions and potential liability
Off-gassing from building materials installed or maintained by a property manager may give rise to liability. In this case, the property manager controlled the conditions that created the exposure:
- Greystar failed to repair the HVAC for 7+ months, eliminating ventilation
- The makeshift repair (FSK tape on a heat-generating appliance) created the chemical source
- The sealed, unventilated space concentrated the VOCs to harmful levels
Documentation shows the property manager was on notice that the unit conditions were hazardous:
- April 6, 2026: Nicole Cordial's email documenting the conditions
- April 10, 2026: Dr. Fabi's physician letter identifying airborne contaminant symptoms
- April 15, 2026: Video documentation sent to management
Explore the full documentation:
- Evidence Photos — thermal imaging, unit conditions
- Audio Analysis — recorded interactions with management
- Interactive Temperature Graph — 61 days of IoT sensor data
- Full Report — complete documented research
Resources
Further reading on VOCs and indoor air quality
EPA on Volatile Organic Compounds
The EPA classifies VOCs as chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and can cause short- and long-term health effects. Indoor VOC levels are consistently 2–5x higher than outdoor levels.
EPA Indoor Air QualityOSHA on Indoor Air Quality
OSHA recognizes that poor indoor air quality from chemical off-gassing can cause Sick Building Syndrome — a condition where occupants experience acute health effects linked to time spent in a building.
OSHA IAQ StandardsInteractive Temperature Graph
61 days of IoT sensor data from Unit 806 showing indoor temperatures that never reached a safe, comfortable range — confirming the HVAC was never repaired.
View the DataTerraTherm: VOC Remediation Science
Industrial remediation firm explains how heat causes VOCs to vaporize exponentially faster. The co-boiling effect drops the release temperature of compounds like toluene and xylene when mixed with moisture — the same mechanism occurring inside Unit 806. When SERVPRO said the contamination “exceeds residential scope,” they were saying the unit needs industrial-grade treatment.
TerraTherm: How Thermal VOC Remediation WorksThe Full Story
How three institutional tracks — the building, the courts, and the family — converged on displacing the tenant who reported these conditions.
Read the Story“Unfounded”
On June 11, 2026, the building’s outside counsel — Cohen Marraccini LLC — sent a letter to the tenant’s father (not the tenant) stating that the chemical exposure allegations are “unfounded” and that “the air quality in the unit was investigated, and the findings revealed no indication of hazardous fumes.”
The documented evidence contradicting that characterization includes:
- FLIR thermal imaging documenting surface temperatures of 102–114°F on the FSK tape — temperatures at which the adhesive thermally degrades and releases VOCs
- IoT sensor data (3,400+ readings) showing the unit never entered a comfortable temperature range across eight continuous days
- Two physician letters from Dr. Mark Fabi (April 10 and June 11, 2026) documenting chemical exposure symptoms including neurological impairment
- Ambulance transport on May 6, 2026 — two EMS responders reported dizziness in the building hallway
- SERVPRO declined the remediation job, stating the contamination “exceeds residential scope”
- Three documented acute re-exposures (May 6, May 24, June 10)
- No air sampling, material testing, or source identification was ever performed by the building
The word “investigated” without methodology, instrumentation, or results is not an investigation. The VOC Investigation Handbook explains what a competent investigation requires. The Layman’s Reference Guide explains the same concepts in plain English.