Hundreds of Hurricane Victims Sue Manufacturers of Allegedly Toxic FEMA Mobile Homes and Trailers, According to The Buzbee Law Firm |
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By: The Buzbee Law Firm Posted: 2007-08-08 15:37:33 |
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Mobile home and travel trailer manufacturers allegedly exposed displaced victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to harmful levels of formaldehyde, according to a lawsuit filed by more than 500 Louisianans who have resided in the federally provided housing units.
Filed late Tuesday in New Orleans federal court, the lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers violated federal and Louisiana laws by producing hurricane relief housing units that emit formaldehyde "at a dangerously unhealthy rate." The plaintiffs reside or have resided in manufactured mobile homes and travel trailers that were provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the landfalls of the hurricanes in August and September 2005. According to the Complaint, the housing units, ordered by the tens of thousands by the federal government, were manufactured "without the benefits of Defendants' usual quality control. Defendants were unable to find enough construction materials from their usual suppliers of low-formaldehyde emitting material, and, instead used high-formaldehyde emitting particle board, composite woods, adhesive and other materials in the manufacture of the Housing Units." Attorneys Tony Buzbee and Peter K. Taaffe, of The Buzbee Law Firm, of Galveston, Texas, and John Munoz, of Garner & Munoz, of New Orleans, represent the plaintiffs. Mr. Buzbee stated, "We allege that the defendants' rush to manufacture the housing units led them to produce and deliver unsafe and hazardous units. Our clients report a wide range of symptoms that are consistent with formaldehyde exposure. This troubling situation has compounded the misery of many who were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita." The defendants are Gulf Stream Coach, Inc.; Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.; Jayco Enterprises, Inc.; Starcraft RV, Inc.; Forest River, Inc.; Thor Industries, Inc.; Coachmen Industries, Inc.; Palomino RV; Pilgrim International, Inc.; Keystone Industries, Inc.; Morgan Building Systems, Inc.; Frontier RV, Inc.; Recreation by Design, LLC; and Skyline Corp. The case is "Jerome Anthony Culler, et al., v. Gulf Stream Coach, Inc., et al." (Civil Action No. 07-4018) in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The lawsuit will not be pursued as a class action, according to counsel. Attorney Contacts: Tony Buzbee and Peter K. Taaffe, The Buzbee Law Firm, (800) 992-5393. Media Contacts: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, (281) 362-1411 or (281) 703-6000, and Jane Johnston Mumey, Powers MediaWorks LLC, (713) 515- 4450. |
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