Brittany Bacinski told WDIV that she had emailed Public Storage, spoken with the facility’s general manager and submitted multiple claims over damaged belongings, but had not received the help she sought. Public Storage did not respond to the station’s requests for comment, according to WDIV’s report.
Bacinski said she found her belongings damaged after returning to her climate-controlled unit at the end of September. The affected items included furniture and family keepsakes, including her children’s baby blankets and first toys. She told WDIV she began sneezing while uncovering the mold-covered possessions. WDIV also reported that other renters in the same area of the facility told Bacinski their belongings had mold, and that the station had received similar complaints from viewers.
Complaints reported at another Michigan facility
WDIV has also reported complaints at a separate Public Storage facility in Downriver. In its earlier report, the station said more than a dozen renters reported mold damage. One renter, Stephanie Campbell, told WDIV she estimated her losses at $15,000 and paid $224 a month for her climate-controlled unit.
Bacinski told WDIV she is seeking compensation for the value of her damaged belongings, including items with sentimental importance. Her account of seeking assistance, and the company’s lack of response to the station, are reported by WDIV; this article has no independent reporting on the complaint or the company’s position.
What Michigan law says about stored-property value
Michigan’s Self-Service Storage Facility Act allows a rental agreement to set a limit on the value of property stored at a facility or in a unit, and says that limit is considered the maximum value for all purposes, according to the Michigan Legislature. Whether that provision applies to Bacinski’s claim would depend on the terms of her rental agreement.
