Result: $14.5 million settlement
Year: 2004
Foothill/DeAnza Community College District v. Northwest Pipe Company
In June 2004, the court approved the creation of a settlement fund of up to $14.5 million for property owners nationwide with Poz-Lok fire sprinkler piping that fails. Since 1990, Poz-Lok pipes and pipe fittings were sold in the U.S. as part of fire suppression systems for use in residential and commercial buildings.
After leaks in Poz-Lok pipes caused damage to its DeAnza Campus Center building, Foothill/DeAnza Community College District in California retained Lieff Cabraser to file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of Poz-Lok. The college district charged that Poz-Lok pipe had manufacturing and design defects that resulted in the premature corrosion and failure of the product.
Under the settlement, owners whose Poz-Lok pipes are leaking today, or over the next 15 years, may file a claim for compensation.