Kasdan Lippsmith Weber Turner LLP announce class action settlement affecting current and former owners of homes or buildings containing BrassCraft potable water plumbing components made with yellow brass

IRVINE, Calif., April 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A settlement has been reached with BrassCraft Manufacturing Company ("BrassCraft") about certain potable water plumbing components, including stop valves, connectors and fittings, made with yellow brass manufactured and/or sold by BrassCraft ("Covered Products"). The settlement provides certain benefits for conditions alleged to be associated with Covered Products.

The Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, will hold a hearing to decide whether to give final approval to the settlement, so that the benefits can be issued. Those included have legal rights and options, such as submitting a claim for benefits or excluding themselves from or objecting to the settlement. More information is in the detailed notice and Settlement Agreement, which are both available at www.BCyellowbrasssettlement.com.

The lawsuit makes various claims, including that the Covered Products can corrode or leak and cause property damage. BrassCraft denies all of the claims and allegations in the lawsuit and maintains that the Covered Products are not defective. The Court has made no determination about the strengths or weaknesses of any of the claims or any of BrassCraft's defenses. Instead, the parties have entered into a settlement to end the litigation.

The Court created a Settlement Class covering all persons that own or have owned homes, buildings, or any other structures located in the United States that contain Covered Products during a certain time period. Visit the website to read descriptions and see photos of the Covered Products.

Class Members who submit valid claims may be entitled to one or more of the following Settlement Benefits: (1) for Covered Products that are confirmed to have exterior "meringue" (white or green zinc oxide) deposits as a result of corrosion to the Covered Product: a choice of either (a) up to 15 replacement products, or (b) five year extended settlement benefit coverage for potential leaks; (2) for Covered Products with occlusions (reduction in water flow capacity) or inoperable valves as a result of corrosion to the Covered Product, up to three replacement products; (3) reimbursement for reasonable replacement costs and related labor charges for Covered Products with leaks, and for property damage caused by corrosion of a Covered Product up to $5,000. Commercial properties with confirmed exterior meringue deposits as a result of corrosion to a Covered Product may receive five year extended settlement benefit coverage for leaks only.  

To obtain any benefits from the settlement you must fill out and submit a Claim Form. Claim Forms are available at the website or by calling (888) 633-9195. The earliest deadline for submitting a claim is expected to be November 9, 2016. The detailed Notice and Settlement Agreement, available at www.BCyellowbrasssettlement.com, describe more fully the benefits available under the proposed settlement and how to file a claim.

If you do not want to be legally bound by the settlement, you must exclude yourself from the Class by June 29, 2016, or you will not be able to sue BrassCraft about the legal claims this settlement resolves, ever again. If you exclude yourself, you cannot get any benefits from the settlement. If you stay in the Class, you may object to it by written Objection no later than June 29, 2016. The Court will consider oral objections made at the Fairness Hearing. The detailed notice explains how to exclude yourself or object.

The Court will hold a hearing in the case, known as Houze, et al. v. BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, et al., Case No. BC493276, on August 11, 2016, at 9:00 a.m., to consider whether to approve the settlement, and a request by Class Counsel for attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses of no more than $4.95 million and incentive awards for the Class Representatives of $5,000 for each property unit they own. Payment of attorneys' fees and expenses will not reduce the benefits to Settlement Class Members. You or your own lawyer, if you have one, may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own cost, but you do not have to. For more information, call (888) 633-9195 or go to www.BCyellowbrasssettlement.com.

SOURCE Kasdan Lippsmith Weber Turner LLP

Related Links

http://www.BCyellowbrasssettlement.com