Judge rejects class action by Gulf Coast hurricane victims over trailer fumes

Dec 29 05:02 PM US/Eastern

trailer fumes

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has refused to certify a class action on behalf of thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims who claim they were exposed to potentially hazardous Formaldehyde fumes while living in government-issued trailers after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt ruled today that a batch of lawsuits against the U.S. government and several trailer manufacturers can't be handled as a collective class action because the facts of each plaintiff's claim are unique and must be examined individually.

Formaldehyde is a preservative that can cause breathing problems and is classified as a carcinogen.

The Canadian Press, 2008