Three new class action lawsuits have been filed against Lumber Liquidators since “60 Minutes” aired an episode on March 1 that claimed the retailer was selling laminate flooring with unsafe levels of formaldehyde.
In the same time period, nine law firms have announced their own investigations into the company.
The three lawsuits all concern allegations made by “60 Minutes” that Lumber Liquidators sold laminate flooring that was not in compliance with California Air Resource Board regulations.
The lawsuits were filed in Florida by firms Weil, Quaranta P.A. and Babbitt & Johnson PA, California by firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and Virginia by Gilman Law LLP.
The lawsuit filed in Florida was the first federal class action lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators after the “60 Minutes” investigation aired.
Specifically it alleges that Lumber Liquidators, in the process of selling laminate flooring that potentially contains unsafe levels of formaldehyde, violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, profited at the expense of consumer health, and breached implied product merchantability and express warranty. The lawsuit also claims Lumber Liquidators was negligent.
“Who knows how many thousands of homes in Florida and the nation have such a dangerous level of toxins in their floors?” asked Weil Quaranta partner Ronald Weil in a statement. “This is a public danger. This issue of formaldehyde in Lumber Liquidators products goes back to 2013.”
The lawsuit’s lead complainant purchased 500 square feet of St. James Collection by Dream Home laminate flooring at a Lumber Liquidators retail store in Miami.
The St. James Collection was one of multiple Lumber Liquidators products found to contain excessive formaldehyde levels by the non-profit Global Community Monitor, whose president discussed the organization’s own class action lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators in the “60 Minutes” episode.
Meanwhile, at least nine law firms have announced their investigations of Lumber Liquidators. They are Robertson & Associates, LLP, Baron & Budd, Federman & Sherwood, Weitz & Luxenberg, Keller Rohrback, Roy Jacobs & Associates, Robbins Arroyo LLP, Bernstein Liebhard LLP, and Andrews & Springer LLC.
For answers to frequently asked questions about formaldehyde, the California Air Resources Board and contractor liability, see Hardwood Floors' articles "Frequent Questions After the Lumber Liquidators ’60 Minutes’ Report" and "After Lumber Liquidators '60 Minutes' Report, Installers Ask: Am I Liable?"
Editor's note: The original story posted March 5 was updated March 9 to include news of nine new investigations and two additional lawsuits filed against Lumber Liquidators.
