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Settlement Proposed for Steel Tubing Lawsuit
Builders may receive questions from home owners about a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit involving corrugated stainless steel
 tubing (CSST) that has been used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings after Sept. 5, 2006. The tubing is used to transmit gas.
According to the plaintiffs in the case, tubing manufactured by Titeflex, Ward, OmegaFlex or Parker Hannifin poses an unreasonable risk of fire from lightning strikes. The tubing in question is stamped with one of the manufacturers’ marks.
CSST is a continuous, flexible, stainless steel pipe that typically is covered with a yellow plastic coating. It is usually installed along floor joists, above basements, in attic spaces or connected to exposed appliances such as water heaters.
The suit alleges that the tubing is not thick enough to prevent damage in the event of a lightning strike and that the manufacturers have failed to warn consumers about this alleged danger.
Under the proposed settlement, those who qualify ― which includes home owners ― will receive payment vouchers of between $200 and $2,000 to defray the cost of buying and installing a lightning protection system, or between $75 and $160 to install a bonding and grounding system.
Participants who plan to make a claim must submit a claim form to the CSST Settlement Administrator by Sept. 5, 2007.
A hearing to determine whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate will be held in the Circuit Court of Clark County, Ark. on Feb. 1.
For more information, visit www.csstsettlement.com, call the CSST Settlement Administrator at 800-420-2916, or write the administrator at P.O. Box 4349; Portland, Ore. 97208-4349.
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