SCRANTON, PA – Consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman has filed a third class-action lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL), representing Pennsylvania consumers against the laminate flooring company for allegedly selling flooring tainted with hazardous levels of formaldehyde. The Pennsylvania family named in the suit sought a product that would be easier for their asthma symptoms, exhibited by their 7-year-old daughter, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit filed on Mar. 9, 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania alleges that Lumber Liquidators sold composite flooring manufactured in China tainted with hazardous levels of formaldehyde while falsely labeling their products as meeting or exceeding California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards.

Concerned consumers who purchased “Dream Home” Lumber Liquidators flooring may contact Hagens Berman by emailing [email protected] or by calling 206-623-7292. Additional information about the investigation is available at www.hbsslaw.com/cases/lumber-liquidators---formaldehyde-flooring.

According to the complaint, on March 17, 2014 plaintiffs Andrew and Carinne Karlick purchased several hundred square feet of 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Warm Springs Chestnut Laminate Flooring at a Lumber Liquidators store in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Karlick suffers from asthma, and their 7-year-old daughter has begun exhibiting asthmatic symptoms. According to the complaint, Mr. and Mrs. Karlick were aware of risks that building products could contain formaldehyde and other dangerous chemicals and specifically tried to ensure that the composite flooring they purchased was safe.

The complaint states, “Soon after the Lumber Liquidators composite flooring was installed in their home, Mrs. Karlick and the Karlick’s daughter experienced worse asthma symptoms than they normally experienced.  In October 2014 the Karlick’s daughter experienced a severe attack that required her to be treated with a nebulizer and to receive oxygen treatment – which she had never needed before.  Her symptoms then complicated and developed into pneumonia.”

“The Karlicks specifically sought laminate flooring because they thought it would be easier on their asthma symptoms than carpeting, but the product they received was not safe and only worsened their symptoms,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and attorney representing consumers in the case. “Mrs. Karlick and her daughter both suffered from intensifying asthma symptoms that required increasing care, including an oxygen treatment for her daughter – something she had never needed prior to their installing Lumber Liquidators flooring.”

A report from “60 Minutes” recently 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.

Lumber Liquidators has reportedly failed to alert consumers about the allegedly high levels of formaldehyde in its laminate wood flooring.

If you purchased Lumber Liquidators “Dream Home” composite flooring, contact Hagens Berman to find out about your rights by emailing [email protected] or by calling 206-623-7292. Find out more about the class-action lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators.

# # #

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.

Media Contact
Ashley Klann
[email protected]
206-268-9363