Lumber Liquidators Class Action Lawsuit Filed

A toxic laminate flooring class action lawsuit has been filed in federal court against Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. by several Massachusetts residents.

The lawsuit alleges that Lumber Liquidators intentionally misled consumers about the safety of their products by falsely stating formaldehyde levels found in their laminate flooring complied California’s strict environmental standards when they did not.

The Lumber Liquidators class action lawsuit was filed by Karen W., and married couple Scott and Maryanne B. All three plaintiffs are Massachusetts residents.

On June 30, 2014, Scott and Maryanne purchased nearly 2,000  square feet of Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring for their home. At the time, their daughter was 8 months old and the couple wanted to replace the carpeting in their home because they believed the laminate flooring would create a healthier environment for their daughter, according to the lawsuit.

Scott had significant experience with building materials and was aware of the formaldehyde risks associated with laminate flooring, the Lumber Liquidators lawsuit says. He also says that he knew  California formaldehyde emissions regulations were the strictest in the country.

In shopping for and purchasing the laminate flooring for his home, Scott allegedly paid specific attention to manufacturers’ representations concerning formaldehyde levels and toxic emissions. Scott selected and installed Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring in his home because the products claimed to comply with California’s strict emission regulations, even though the couple resided in Massachusetts, the lawsuit says.

However, Lumber Liquidators representations reportedly were not true and now Scott and his family says they are left with the choice of either incurring substantial costs to redo their flooring, or placing their health and safety at risk.

Karen’s story is similar. In February 2012 Karen purchased approximately 500 square feet of Lumber Liquidator’s laminate flooring. Prior to purchasing the flooring Karen noted that Lumber Liquidator’s website made several representations that their flooring complied with the nation’s strictest chemical emissions standards.

Karen says she relied on these representations when purchasing the laminate flooring and was under the belief that her purchase did not contain dangerous levels of chemicals, like formaldehyde.

The lawsuit says she is paying to have the laminate flooring removed and replaced by a safer option.

Overview of Lumber Liquidators Lawsuits

According to several investigations and lawsuits filed against Lumber Liquidators, the popular flooring retailer has been selling products known to emit formaldehyde levels that pose serious health risks. Formaldehyde is often found in the glue or resin used to create the base mixture for laminate flooring.

When used in low levels, the formaldehyde will quickly dissipate before or during installation, but in high levels it is slowly released as a gas. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause increased risks of cancer of the nose and sinuses, lung cancer, and leukemia. It is also known to cause headaches, coughing, burning eyes and nose and throat irritation.

Although investigations have found that Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring manufactured in the U.S. generally falls within the California’s legal limits and complies with the information represented on their product packaging, Lumber Liquidator products manufactured in China are said to exceed these limits by as much as 20 times the allowable amount.

Personal injury attorneys are looking for potential plaintiffs to either join a Lumber Liquidator class action lawsuit as a class member or to bring a lawsuit individually. The decision on whether to join a class action or pursue litigation individually should be made with the guidance of a legal professional.

The Lumber Liquidators class action lawsuit is Case Number 1:15-cv-10724-GAO, filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Massachusetts.

UPDATE: Several Lumber Liquidators class action lawsuits were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), or mass tort, and transferred to a Virginia federal court by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), alleging that the flooring company sold wood floors containing toxic levels of formaldehyde.

Join a Free Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased laminate flooring from Lumber Liquidators, you may have a legal claim. Join a free class action lawsuit investigation to see if you qualify.

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