MASSACHUSETTS – Consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman today filed an expanded lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators(NYSE:LL), stating that the flooring company not only sold noncompliant composite flooring, but that its engineered hardwood floors also contain hazardous levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde, according to the lawsuit.

Following Hagens Berman’s lawsuits against Lumber Liquidators based on the formaldehyde content in its composite flooring, the company admitted that its composite flooring had failed California Air Resources Board (CARB) testing, but took issue with the testing method. Hagens Berman’s continued investigation reveals that Lumber Liquidators’ engineered flooring also contains hazardous levels of formaldehyde – a fact not revealed by the flooring company.

“Consumers across the nation have been unknowingly filling their homes with a product laced with high levels of cancer-causing chemicals,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. “Lumber Liquidators continues to distribute and sell its engineered flooring products to customers who believe they are CARB compliant, when in reality its products are emitting toxic fumes.”

Concerned consumers who live in any state and purchased Lumber Liquidators engineered hardwood flooring or “Dream Home” Lumber Liquidators composite flooring may contact Hagens Berman by emailing [email protected] or by calling 206-623-7292. Visit the firm’s website for additional information about the Lumber Liquidators lawsuit.

Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in the glue used in the engineered flooring base layer and can cause myeloid leukemia and other cancers, as well as respiratory issues, and eye, nose and throat irritation.

Engineered flooring is an assembly of hardwood layers or plies of veneer, or veneers in combination with a platform consisting of lumber core, composite core, a special core material or special back material, joined with an adhesive. A face veneer of composed of hardwood or decorative softwood is then affixed to the top surface.

The lawsuit filed on May 21, 2015 in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts representing a nationwide class of consumers alleges that Lumber Liquidators sold the engineered hardwood flooring manufactured in China tainted with hazardous levels of formaldehyde while falsely labeling their products as meeting or exceeding CARB emissions standards.

The suit’s named plaintiffs – Christopher and Coleen Hyldburg of Massachusetts – performed multiple home-test kits. The results revealed a formaldehyde concentration in the air of 52 ng/L (42 ppb) – more than 20 times the exposure limit the OEHHA recommends for chronic exposure. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Hyldburg reported these findings by phone and email to Lumber Liquidators. In response, he received a form letter that ignored the findings. Neither the accompanying letter nor any other information from Lumber Liquidators accurately stated the recommended levels of the California environmental agencies with whose regulations Lumber Liquidators claims to comply.

A report from “60 Minutes” stated that all laminate flooring carried by Lumber Liquidators bears a label indicating that it is CARB Phase 2–compliant, but that its flooring manufactured in China that bears this label is in fact not compliant. The report revealed that glue and resin used to bond the pressed wood together can be a significant source of formaldehyde gas.

Concerned consumers who live in any state and purchased Lumber Liquidators engineered hardwood flooring or “Dream Home” Lumber Liquidators composite flooring may sign up for the lawsuit here.

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About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with offices in nine cities. The firm has been named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List eight times. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

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