Toronto disclosed the problem on a form during a subsequent cleaning inspection. A Stadium Terrace employee read the form and signed it, according to the lawsuit.

Toronto and her two roommates returned home from shopping at about 2 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2003, and one turned on the heat for the first time since the cleaning inspection. At 8:30 a.m., one of the women heard a crash, according to the lawsuit. Dizzy, the woman struggled down the hallway to find Toronto lying unconscious on the floor in the bathroom.

Questar and Stadium Terrace ultimately determined the apartment furnace was faulty, according to the suit. The lawsuit says a Questar employee measured the carbon-monoxide level in the apartment at 1,000 parts per million. The state limit is 50 ppm.

Toronto declined to talk about her specific injuries because of the pending lawsuit.

"A lot of people experience fatigue, ongoing headaches, muscle atrophy due to the lack of oxygen, impaired motor functions," she said.

Toronto exhibits several of those symptoms of CO poisoning, speaking articulately but haltingly, with some apparent motor function loss.

Toronto is seeking a minimum of $250,000 in general damages, a minimum of $100,000 in special damages and unspecified punitive damages at a jury trial.

Eslwick said the money is necessary to help Toronto's ongoing rehabilitation and future care. There is concern that if she has children, she'll need extra help caring for them. A jury award also could call more attention to CO poisoning.

"It's preventable," said Toronto, who gives CO detectors out as gifts. They cost between $20 and $50. "It's such a small price to pay for something that causes so much potential long-term damage." Her mother has a message for parents who send their children to college in Provo or anywhere else, a message she'll share today at a press conference.

"Until carbon monoxide detectors are mandated, send one to school with your children."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com