Some of the largest water supply line manufacturers are facing class action lawsuits over defective products. One company, in particular, Fluidmaster, is facing lawsuits related to its “no-burst” stainless steel water lines. These lines are prone to corrosion, and the company used inferior materials for inner tubing and coupling nuts. In some cases, water supply lines have suddenly broken and property owners have spent $15-60k to fix the lines.
Watts
The Watts v. Water Supply Lines lawsuit was filed in January. Several companies were named defendants, including Watts Water, which made valves for the pipes. The lawsuit is seeking at least $100,000 in damages. Watts’ lawyers declined to comment, and a spokeswoman for the law firm Sidley did not respond to a request for comment. In 2004, Watts considered acquiring Changsha Valve Works, a Chinese company, to bid on a lucrative infrastructure market. The company hired Sidley to evaluate the legal risks associated with the acquisition.
In this case, the PRV was defective when Mr. Kenney was injured. Although he had been warned to take precautions to prevent damage, the Ballcock nuts that were installed in the pipeline had failed and were responsible for the injury. The ballcock nuts that were installed in the Watts pipes did not prevent the injury, but the resulting damage was enough to require him to file the lawsuit. Although the injury was caused several years ago, the damage only manifested itself in July 2019.
EZ-Flo
The EZ-Flo Water Supply Lines lawsuit claims that the faulty hoses pose a high risk of failure. When they fail, the coupling nuts may come loose, allowing water to escape and causing extensive property damage. There is evidence that the faulty hoses were sold under various brands, including Eastman and “Lifetime Series.”
According to the lawsuit, the hoses are defective because the coupling nut is made from a metallic insert that cuts the rubber hose. Under normal water pressure, this can lead to serious property damage. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for any damages sustained by their customers and an order preventing the EZ-Flo from selling the faulty hoses. If the product is found to be defective, this is a good opportunity to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
The company EZ-FLO International, Inc. manufactures these supply lines. They are made of flexible tubing with protective braided wire on the outside and plastic nuts on both ends to connect them to adjacent plumbing. In the alleged case, the plastic nuts are faulty. Plaintiffs alleged that this defect caused them to pay insured homeowners for the damages caused by the faulty product. Attorneys are investigating these cases to determine if the faulty water supply lines could have been a contributing cause of the injuries and property damage.
Eastman
A new class-action lawsuit against Eastman Chemical Co. has been filed in Tennessee. The case involves claims of private and public nuisance, trespass, negligence, and strict liability for ultra-hazardous activity. The lead plaintiff is Sharon Weatherly, who lives near the Eastman plant in Kingsport. She alleges that her home value has decreased due to the spill and that her neighbors and her community will continue to be negatively affected.
The lawsuit claims that the company used inferior inner tubing and that its water supply lines were susceptible to rupture under pressure or exposure to high temperatures. Her leaking water supply line burst two years after she installed it, causing thousands of dollars in property damage. The plaintiff was compensated for the repair work that she undertook to repair the damage but continues to suffer from the problem. If you have a faulty water supply line, you may be entitled to a lawsuit.
Kitec
A large class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of Kitec water supply lines was approved by Canadian and American courts in 2011. The settlement will provide approximately $125 million to compensate victims. The settlement amounts will be distributed to claimants according to the dates of installation. The remaining money will be paid to homeowners who experienced floods and leaks caused by the Kitec pipes and fixtures. The Kitec water supply lines have been linked to over 292,000 floods and leaks in North America.
Throughout the 1990s, the brand Kitec was used extensively in the construction of residential homes in the United States and Canada. It was considered a cheaper alternative to copper piping, but it has since been deemed substandard and recalled. People have filed a lawsuit against Kitec because the fittings were prone to damage and corrosion. The piping also contained excessive amounts of zinc. Zinc leaches from brass connections and leaks.
