Current Cases / WeatherBest Composite Decking Investigation

WeatherBest Composite Decking Investigation

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Products) recently issued a product advisory for composite decking materials purchased after January 1, 2005, and made by LP at its Meridian, Idaho facility.

Some of the product can prematurely deteriorate and break, posing a risk of injury to consumers. LP decking products, including deck board and railings sold under the names of LP WeatherBest(R), WeatherBest(R), ABTCo and Veranda(R) are subject to this advisory.

The products are used for building outdoor decks. LP has received claims of premature deterioration of a small portion of its decking product due to variations in manufacturing processes in this time frame.

WeatherBest, ABTCo and Veranda are composite products that look similar to natural wood and are sold in several different colors, including Driftwood Grey, Pacific Cedar, Tuscan Walnut, Western Redwood, Chestnut and Greystone.

The affected products were sold after January 1, 2005 under the WeatherBest name at building products dealers nationwide, and under the Veranda and ABTCo brands at The Home Depot stores in the western part of the U.S.

Only those Veranda decking and railing products manufactured by LP are the subject of this advisory. WeatherBest products manufactured after LP's sale of the Meridian plant in October 2007 are not affected.

Consumers should check their Veranda, WeatherBest or ABTCo decking materials for visible cracks or deterioration on the surface, and/or chipping of the surface layers. If the deck or railing is deteriorating, do not use the deck.  Contact Audet & Partners, LLP to protect your legal rights.

Even if there is no visible sign of deterioration, if you purchased Veranda or WeatherBest decking or railing products after January 1, 2005, you should also contact our law firm to protect your legal rights.

Persons seeking to preserve any potential legal claims should contact an attorney promptly, since all states have mandatory time periods in which lawsuits must be filed with the courts; otherwise, they may be forever barred.

Audet & Partners represents individuals, governmental entities, small businesses and institutional shareholders in product liability, tort, negligence, consumer, construction defect, investment fraud, securities, insider trading, antitrust, environmental, whistle blower, aviation and employment cases. In recognition of their outstanding abilities and commitment to the legal profession over the years, the firm and its members have served as Court-appointed Plaintiffs’ Counsel in dozens of federal and state cases throughout the United States.