Makers of Katrina Trailers Sued

Makers of Katrina Trailers Sued

Posted Aug 9, 2007, 09:49 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

More than 500 hurricane survivors living in government-issued trailers are suing the manufacturers, claiming their use of substandard materials exposed them to dangerous levels of formaldehyde.

The suit seeks to force the manufacturers to remove materials containing formaldehyde from the trailers, the Associated Press reports. The complaint claims the companies ignored usual quality control standards to quickly fill orders placed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a press release says.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, of Galveston, Texas, filed the federal suit in New Orleans on Tuesday. He told the Times-Picayune that occupants get medical treatment, then “have to go right back to these trailers." Many are fearful and sleeping outside their temporary homes.

Several other lawsuits have also been filed targeting trailer manufacturers.