$43.5M Settlement Resolves NIBCO Plumbing Part Defect Class Action

A $43.5 million class action settlement has been reached to resolve claims that NIBCO plumbing products are defective and cause property damage.

NIBCO Inc. and a group of plaintiffs have reached their settlement after nearly five years of litigation.

Plaintiffs filed the class action lawsuit alleging that NIBCO plumbing parts, including polyethylene plumbing tubes, brass fittings, and stainless steel clamps, are defective and fail prematurely.

“The proposed settlement is an excellent result for property owners,” plaintiff counsel said in a statement. “It provides substantial relief for past and future failures that are related to the products at issue, including the option for a replumb.”

Chairman of NIBCO’s Board of Directors Rex Martin similarly said that the proposed settlement “is consistent with our core commitment to quality and shows that we stand behind the products we make and sell.” The company has admitted no wrongdoing by agreeing to the class action settlement.

“The company has agreed to settle these claims to provide a predictable path for putting this litigation behind us and to give affected customers who have had water leaks a way to pursue their claims without the time and expense of individual lawsuits,” Martin states.

The $43.5 million NIBCO plumbing parts class action settlement will benefit consumers who have experienced property damage from water leaks associated with NIBCO products since 2005.

Consumers will also be able to submit claims for compensation for six years after the settlement takes effect, protecting from any further water damage expenses. This excludes any damage caused by incorrect installation or other damage such as a nail piercing the plumbing.

Consumers who experienced three or more leaks associated with NIBCO plumbing products are eligible for a replumbing of their entire house or building under the settlement.

Replumbing will be compensated at $600 for each plumbing fixture (sink, washing machine, etc.) and $300 for each half fixture (toilet, etc.). Compensation for replumbing is capped at $16,000.

The settlement will also provide compensation to plaintiff counsel, who plans to seek attorneys’ fees of around $12.9 million and court costs of around $1.1 million.

Class Members will be informed about the settlement in a variety of ways. Word of the NIBCO plumbing settlement will be published in both print and digital media to reach potential Class Members. Angeion Group LLC is the settlement administrator and will email notices to a variety of consumers.

These notified consumers include around 31,000 employees at water damage repair companies, about 48,000 employees at homeowners’ insurance companies, and around 162,000 plumbers across the United States.

These individuals often work with leaks which may involve NIBCO plumbing parts and can effectively spread word of the settlement.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Plaintiffs are represented by Joseph G. Sauder, Joseph B. Kenney and Matthew D. Schelkopf of Sauder Schelkopf LLC; Shanon J. Carson, Lawrence Deutsch and Jacob M. Polakoff of Berger Montague; and Bruce D. Greenberg and Susana Cruz Hodge of Lite DePalma Greenberg LLC.

The NIBCO Plumbing Part Class Action Lawsuit is Cole, et al. v. NIBCO Inc., Case No. 3:13-­cv­-07871, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

UPDATE: December 2018, the NIBCO plumbing parts class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.