Product Liability - Monday, November 10, 2008 9:56 - 0 Comments

FEMA not immune from toxic trailer suits

A federal judge has ruled that the federal government is not immune from lawsuits claiming many Gulf Coast hurricane victims were exposed to potentially dangerous fumes while living in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt cited evidence that FEMA delayed investigating complaints about formaldehyde levels in its trailers because the agency felt it might be held legally responsible. Formaldehyde, which is used as a preservative, can cause breathing problems and is classified as a carcinogen. Judge Engelhardt said FEMA learned of the formaldehyde concerns around March 2006, several months after Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, but responded by “sticking their heads in the sand” rather than ordering air-quality tests. The judge wrote in his order that:

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