Federal Courts Initiate Process of Grouping Lumber Liquidators Flooring Lawsuits

SAN FRANCISCO — Federal courts in at least three states have issued orders assigning a single judge to preside over multiple claims that Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring emits harmful levels of formaldehyde in excess of industry standards.

Orders deeming the cases “related” were filed recently in South Carolina and in two California District Courts, where class action complaints are being reassigned to judges identified by counsel as preferred candidates to preside over a nationwide MDL docket for all pending and future Lumber Liquidators flooring lawsuits.

The sua sponte orders, entered without opposition, aim to streamline the discovery and administrative processes …