DuraPro Toilet Connectors Left Expensive Water Damage, Say Plaintiffs

A group of plaintiffs is seeking compensation for water damage to their homes that was allegedly caused by faulty DuraPro toilet connectors

Plaintiffs Jacquelyn Ajose, Kathy Smith, Sharon Kurtz and Patricia Evett all claim that DuraPro toilet connectors installed on their toilets failed, causing leaks and substantial water damage in their homes.

The four original plaintiffs have since been joined by new plaintiffs James L. Boyland and Kathy Dutton in a DuraPro class action lawsuit seeking compensation from Interline Brands Inc., which markets the Chinese-made toilet connectors.

A toilet connector is a flexible hose with threaded couplers at each end. It’s used to connect a toilet tank to the plumbing line that supplies it with water.

According to the plaintiffs, the defect in these toilet connectors lies in the plastic coupler that attaches to the toilet tank. These plastic couplers tend to crack at their base, allowing pressurized water to leak and potentially flood the surrounding area.

Plaintiffs: DuraPro Toilet Connectors Made with Weak Plastic

Plaintiffs believe the problem is related to the material used to make these couplers. “Acetal, also known as POM, is widely accepted as a ‘notch sensitive’ polymer that is prone to failure due to stress concentration,” the DuraPro class action lawsuit states.

They believe that overtightening the couplers can stress the acetal plastic, eventually causing it to fail and crack. Using a tool like a wrench to tighten the coupler rather than threading it only finger-tight can only make things worse, they say.

But due to a complete lack of instructions provided by the defendants, plaintiffs say they could not have known that they should avoid overtightening the couplers.

Adding annoyance  to the damage is the fact that Interline was apparently aware of the defects as far back as 2007 but failed to fully address it.

The plaintiffs cite an email exchange between Interline’s quality manager and their manufacturing partners in China that shows both were aware that the couplers in question had a tendency to fail.

In May 2016, U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp largely allowed the DuraPro class action lawsuit to continue over the defendant’s motion to dismiss.

Judge Sharp allowed two of the plaintiffs’ original seven claims to continue as pleaded, but he dismissed claims under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

Only Boyland, who resides in Florida, will be allowed to continue bringing his claim under that states’ Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Judge Sharp dismissed claims for breach of implied warranty as to plaintiffs from Arizona and Florida, finding they had not alleged facts that state a claim under those states’ laws.

The DuraPro class action lawsuit seeks to represent a plaintiff Class consisting of all persons in the U.S. who either purchased a DuraPro toilet connector or who own or reside in a structure that has one of these toilet connectors installed in it.

They are seeking a court order requiring Interline to notify Class Members about the defect in these toilet connectors and to offer replacement parts at its own expense. They also seek an award of damages, restitution, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

The DuraPro Toilet Connectors Lawsuit is Jacqueline D. Ajose, et al. v. Interline Brands Inc., Case No. 3:14-cv-01707, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

UPDATE: On April 24, 2018, Interline Brands Inc. agreed to pay $16.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the company’s DuraPro Toilet Connectors have a defective part that can lead to flooding, causing damage to homes.

Join a Free DuraPro Toilet Connector Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you experienced serious water damage in your home due to a failed DuraPro toilet connector since 2002, you may be entitled to compensation. You may qualify to participate in a DuraPro toilet connector class action lawsuit investigation. It’s absolutely free to participate, so act now!

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