Lumber Liquidators criminal charges are expected related to the company’s imports of Chinese-made laminate flooring. The charges come amid news reports, first noted in March 2015, linking the company to possible health and safety violations after flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators was reportedly found to have levels of formaldehyde, a cancer causing agent, up to 20 times higher than California emission standards. Lumber Liquidators class action lawsuits against the company have been filed on behalf of affected consumers. The criminal charges against the company reportedly relate to its practice of importing illegally logged wood.
If you or your contractor installed laminate flooring in your home or business that was purchased from Lumber Liquidators, contact Attorney Group for information about your options for pursuing monetary compensation. We offer free, no obligation consultations, and if you have a case we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you through the legal process.
Double-Whammy: Flooring Investigation and Criminal Charges
The announcement of expected criminal charges against Lumber Liquidators comes on the heels of an investigation that was launched by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) following a 60 Minutes report exposing potentially unsafe levels of carcinogens in laminate flooring sold by the company. According to CNN Money:
The company came under fire in a March 1 “60 Minutes” report that claimed laminated flooring imported from China contained high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
Shortly after the show aired, the [CPSC] said it was investigating the flooring. The agency said if it found a safety problem it would ask the company to recall the flooring.
U.S.-made flooring sold by the company was found to be safe, according to the CBS report. But hundreds of thousands of homes nationwide had already installed the Chinese-made flooring.
Federal authorities had raided the company’s offices in Virginia in 2013, acting on search warrants for information about imports of certain wood flooring products.
The Lumber Liquidators criminal charges are expected to be brought under the Lacy Act, which prohibits the importation of illegally logged wood. Specifically, “the Lacey Act … is a conservation law in the United States that prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold.” (Source: Wikipedia, Lacey Act of 1900).
Lumber Liquidators Flooring Lawsuits Allege Safety Violations
In addition to the government investigation and expected criminal charges, affected consumers are alleging in Lumber Liquidator class action lawsuits that the company violated safety standards and are liable for damages connected to the sale of the flooring in question. They also allege damages related to the sale of a product containing unsafe levels of a known carcinogen, and for costs related to the testing, removal and replacement of the Lumber Liquidators formaldehyde flooring.
The filing of Lumber Liquidator lawsuits by others does not prevent an affected consumer from pursing his or her own claim for damages. Persons who have purchased laminate flooring from Lumber Liquidators are encouraged to seek legal counsel to determine their rights and whether they might be eligible to file their own Lumber Liquidator flooring lawsuit.
Question? The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you have questions about the expected Lumber Liquidators criminal charges, or if you purchased Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring and would like more information on your options, contact Attorney Group today. We can help answer your questions, and if you have a case we can connect you with an affiliated Lumber Liquidators lawsuit attorney who can assist you through the legal process. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and your consultation is confidential. State laws limited the amount of time you have to pursue a claim, so contact Attorney Group today.
