A Tangipahoa Parish woman has filed a class action suit against a lumber company and its affiliated holdings, alleging material negligence and breach of warranty.
Deberah Matthews of Amite filed a lawsuit March 26 in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana against: Lumber Liquidators Inc.; Lumber Liquidators Leasing; Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc.; and Lumber Liquidators Services, citing breach of contract.
According to the complaint, the defendants imported wood flooring that fails to comply with U.S. legal standards for gas emissions, specifically the release of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. The product, referred to as “Chinese flooring,” is out of compliance with safety standards, the suit states.
Lumber Liquidators is blamed for allegedly misrepresenting the safety of its product via labeling, website content and elsewhere. Matthews alleges she and other class members have been wrongly exposed to hazardous material and have suffered financial harm by having purchased a substandard product.
The lawsuit says on Aug. 2, 2011, Matthews bought flooring from the defendant in Baton Rouse to install in her home. The suit states formaldehyde gas creates a health risk, causing cancer, respiratory ailments and skin problems. It also states that the defendant’s product violates building codes and industry standards.
Matthews seeks: injunctive and declaratory relief; compensatory damages; pre- and post-judgment interest; attorney fees; expenses and costs. She is represented by attorneys Dawn Barrios, Bruce Kingsdorf, and Zachary Wool of Barrios, Kingsdorf & Casteix of New Orleans; and Gerald Meunier and M. Palmer Labert of Gainsburgh Benjamin David Meunier & Warshauer, also of New Orleans.
U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana Case 2:15-cv-00934-HGB-SS.
Class action filed citing hazardous floor material
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