Powered by LawFuel – James Hardie’s release to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday – that it ultimately intends to “cease all manufacturing of products in New Zealand”, at the cost of some 120 Kiwi jobs – is unlikely to stall the class action brought by over 1,000 leaky home owners.
[adrotate banner=”92″]
Adina Thorn, the lawyer leading the action, says the announcement is “concerning” but “not overly surprising” given the history of James Hardie with asbestos in Australia, extensive litigation in that country, and a history of major corporate restructuring.
“We have seen this kind of behaviour before. Now we are seeing a massive downsize of the New Zealand business in the face of significant litigation. Fortunately, our claim is against four other James Hardie companies – three in Australia and the parent company in Ireland. The plaintiffs allege they are each liable.
“If you ask any of the owners – they do not care “which” James Hardie company is legally liable. They just want James Hardie to take responsibility for what they say is designing, manufacturing and selling defective cladding systems and products. They also say that they knew of problems with the products and never said anything, and had a duty to warn”.
“This kind of news gives home owners more stress. Not only do they live in leaky homes in need of recladding and many have mould, they also have health problems, and now have the added worry of “what’s next” with James Hardie. This is when many of the home owners are suffering from significant stress, anxiety and depression”.
The plaintiffs in the class action have a trial in the High Court at Auckland commencing on 3 May 2021 and the trial is due to run for 20 weeks.
For further information please contact:
Adina Thorn Lawyers maryclaire@adinathorn.co.nz +64 9 304 0661
[adrotate banner=”91″]
More on LawFuel
- Publishers vs Perplexity: Britannica and Merriam-Webster Sue AI Upstart Over Copyright Grab
Perplexity AI has landed itself in yet another courtroom. Following lawsuits from Nikkei and… Read more: Publishers vs Perplexity: Britannica and Merriam-Webster Sue AI Upstart Over Copyright Grab - $13.5M Legal Bill: Kerry Stokes Left Carrying the Roberts-Smith Tab
A Warning Shot For Media Lawyers To Know About Australian bilionaire Kerry Stokes has… Read more: $13.5M Legal Bill: Kerry Stokes Left Carrying the Roberts-Smith Tab - Deputy PM David Lammy’s Return to the Law
From Global Diplomacy to Leaking Courthouses David Lammy has swapped the trappings of global… Read more: Deputy PM David Lammy’s Return to the Law - Law Firm Marketing in the AI Era: SEO Tactics Every Lawyer Needs Now
Google has ripped up the old SEO playbook and replaced it with AI Overviews—algorithmic cliff notes that sit at the very top of search results. If your firm isn’t there, you’re invisible. But here’s the twist: this shift isn’t a death knell for law firm marketing, it’s a brutal wake-up call. Firms that adapt to AI-driven search are already seeing higher-quality leads, even as overall web traffic dips. - Who Really Pays After a Car Crash in New York? Article: Horn Wright, Attorneys at Law, NY The First Question After Impact A car… Read more: Who Really Pays After a Car Crash in New York?
- Banksy Judge Artwork in London Sparks Outrage After Courts Cover It Up
Banksy’s latest London salvo, where a judge, in full wig-and-gown regalia, is depicted beating… Read more: Banksy Judge Artwork in London Sparks Outrage After Courts Cover It Up - The Giorgio Armani Business Rules That Lawyers Could Learn From
What Lawyers Could Learn from Fashion’s Last Emperor Norma Harris, Contributing writer Giorgio Armani… Read more: The Giorgio Armani Business Rules That Lawyers Could Learn From
