A local mom says what began as a routine home repair has now turned into the fight of her life.

See the full story in the video below

Michigan vet & single mom locked in legal battle over million-dollar asbestos remediation

Cody Huseman is a single mother, a cancer nurse and a military veteran, and she's now locked in a legal battle after asbestos was discovered in her home, and remediation efforts allegedly went wrong.

How did this nightmare begin for you? I asked her.

So it began with my daughter and I coming home from a family fun night at school. I opened the front door and it looked like a waterfall was coming through my kitchen," Huseman said.

Video from March 18, 2022, shows water pouring from the second floor, running through the house and into the basement.

She said she immediately called her insurance company, USAA.

They came out the next day, or they gave me a list of vendors to pick from," she said.

Huseman told us she chose MJ White & Son in Novi. Crews arrived the next day, cut into walls, removed wet drywall and set up industrial fans.

And when the fans were running and you were still living there what did you notice? I asked.

There was just a lot of dust. And I remember asking them, Is it okay for us to be in here?'" she said.

Huseman testified she was told it was safe to return home. MJ White employees later testified they do not remember the job or what she was told.

The fans stayed for eight weeks. Industry standards say most residential water damage is typically dried within five days.

Concerned her home was still wet, Huseman said USAA advised her to hire another company.

On April 30, 2022, she hired Restoration 1 of Hartland. According to legal filings and testing results, mold was discovered in the basement where water from the original leak had collected.

At that point, she says no asbestos testing had ever been done.

Once they found the mold, they asked where my asbestos report was and I had no idea what they were talking about," Huseman said.

Restoration 1 then hired San-Air to test the home. According to the complaint, samples taken on May 2, 2022, tested positive for asbestos and mold. Air testing on May 6, 2022, also detected asbestos.

With these results, Restoration 1 brought in Global Green a company specializing in asbestos removal.

When you learned asbestos was in your home, what went through your mind? I asked.

My whole world kind of came crumbling down. All I could think about was my little girl and how long we had been breathing that air," Huseman said.

On June 7, 2022, nearly three months after the leak, Global Green told Huseman in writing that the home was safe to return to.

I went in and I was shocked," she said. There was dust everywhere. Food still in the pantry. Chunks of drywall on top of cans. It didnt look like what was supposed to happen.

She then turned to a state-sanctioned firm recommended by MIOSHA BDN Environmental.

My initial assessment just walking in was that it did not appear clean. After an abatement, there shouldnt be any dust," Matt Smith with BDN Environmental said.

BDNs final report was delivered July 15

We found air levels right at the clearance threshold. For it to be that high weeks later that was pretty shocking," Smith said.

Smith says testing showed asbestos contamination inside the home with air levels measuring at the legal limit.

If Cody and her daughter were breathing that air every day, thats a significant exposure over time," Smith said.

Cody and her daughter, now living in a hotel, received a message from USAA saying lodging and living expenses would no longer be covered.

They basically said this was taking too long, asbestos wasnt covered, and they were out," Huseman told us.

How did that make you feel? I asked.

I was shocked. Id been with them for about 20 years," she said.

USAA declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Huseman now says shes paying a mortgage on a contaminated home, insurance premiums without coverage for the damage, rent for a condo and mounting legal bills.

According to court filings, her attorney estimates losses totaling more than a million dollars.

The legal fight began last year, with lawsuits and countersuits now involving multiple companies.

Huseman's attorney, John Badeen with Xuereb Law Group, says required testing should have been done before work ever began.

One simple step testing the walls before remediation could have prevented all of this," Badeen said.

Huseman said she's exhausted, but not giving up.

Cody says shes exhausted but not giving up.

There have been so many times I wanted to quit. But I have my little girl watching me. All I want is my home back and our life back," Huseman said.

I reached out to USAA, Restoration 1, MJ White & Son, and Global Green for comment. All declined, citing ongoing litigation.

A judge has now granted a stay, temporarily pausing the case while an appeals court decides whether it will take up a challenge to an earlier damages ruling.

Where Your Voice Matters

Detroit's new mayor is taking aim at violence in the city through the creation of the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.

Mayor Mary Sheffield says the new office will serve as a hub for violence intervention programs, crime prevention efforts and survivor advocacy. It will also focus on reducing domestic violence through conflict resolution.

Watch Carolyn Clifford's video report below: Domestic violence is a core target of Detroit mayor's new community safety initiative

She said if the city wants to stop crime, one mission will involve tackling domestic violence before it turns deadly, and giving victims a safe space to escape.

Violence in Detroit doesnt always start with a gunshot. Many times, it starts behind closed doors. I sat down one-on-one with the mayor and spoke to a survivor and advocate working to break that cycle.

Extended interview: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks one-on-one with WXYZ on new community violence initiative Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks one-on-one with WXYZ on new community violence initiative

"I would get punched or I'm being drug through the house ... he would get upset and just abuse us," said Patricia Clark.

For Clark, physical abuse came from the hands of her own father and with only one domestic violence shelter in Detroit, there is often no place to run.

"You're being threatened, so you're silenced in that," she said.

Dr. LaDonna Spight has been on the front lines for 25 years. I asked her if there are enough safe spaces for victims.

"No, no not in the city of Detroit at all, there are not enough safe spaces," said Dr. Spight of Sisters Against Abuse Society.

Mayor Sheffield said breaking that cycle is key to reducing violence citywide. Domestic violence is number four on DPD's list of service calls.

"For me as a woman, I just want to ensure that we prioritize this very important issue because we know it truly impacts our communities and our neighborhoods and the safety and well-being of our residents," said Mayor Sheffield.

Related: Detroit Mayor Sheffield launches city's first community safety office to help in crime prevention Detroit Mayor Sheffield launches city's first community safety office to help in crime prevention

Mayor Sheffield said her new crime initiative focuses on neighborhoods and early intervention, and she's on the side of advocates already on the ground.

"I want them to know that through this office, they now have a space where we can advance the work that they are doing," she said.

Related Video: Press conference on the new community safety office Detroit mayor announces new community violence prevention initiative

And working hand in hand with police to help victims find a way out before its too late.

"I think it goes back to conflict resolution, how do we resolve conflict ...empower people to understand how to resolve conflict and differences?" said Mayor Sheffield.

Clark believes educating girls about abuse is key and might have saved her.

"It is really important to set aside a class or set aside a program for young women from elementary school to high school students and beyond," said Clark.

Related: Breaking Free: 7 News Detroit's series on domestic violence Breaking Free: How a mom & child walked out the door of their violent home

Mayor Sheffield said this initiative is just the beginning but for families living in fear, the urgency is already here.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24-7 at 1-800-799-7233.

Dangerously cold weather is gripping Metro Detroit, and more families are struggling just to stay warm and keep a roof over their heads.

Watch Carolyn Clifford's video report: Pontiac shelter saved by $100,000 donation

In Oakland County the second-richest county in Michigan nearly 2,700 people are waiting for emergency shelter. That's why New Birth International Church in Pontiac opened its doors to house the Safe Tonight shelter for women and children.

But after taking in 50 families, a failing furnace and roof put everyone at risk. That's when I put the power of 7 to work.

Inside New Birth International Church, every room has become a place of refuge. Families with nowhere else to go are escaping the cold and searching for safety. The church is housing more than 70 people, the majority children, in its emergency Safe Tonight shelter.

The shelter was only supposed to be open at night, but it became around-the-clock, and the strain quickly became overwhelming. The 35-year-old furnace is failing, and the roof started leaking. With temperatures plunging, the future of the shelter and the safety of those inside was suddenly in jeopardy.

Pastor Theresa Lee and her congregation refused to close their doors despite the mounting costs and growing danger. Kimber Bishop Yanke, who runs her own nonprofit and cares for homeless families, made a call to Channel 7.

That's when the power of 7 went to work.

I first called Chad Audi of the Detroit Rescue Mission. He agreed to donate 30 mattresses, hot dinners to serve at night, toiletries, and more.

Audi reached out to Mitch Albom of Say Detroit to help with staffing costs. They're asking the community to match it.

And now some extraordinary news. The Qazi Foundation has agreed to fully fund a brand-new roof and a new furnace, totaling nearly $100,000.

The news came as a complete surprise to Pastor Lee and a miracle for the families who feared they might lose the only shelter they had during these trying times.

An online fundraising effort is also underway to help fund the shelter.

"This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy."