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Current Cases / Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

Oriented Strand Board: Allegations Against Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Weyerhaeuser Co., Georgia-Pacific Corp., Norbord Inc., J.M. Huber Corp., Ainsworth Lumber Co., and Potlatch Corp.

Class action lawsuits have been filed against
the nation’s largest manufacturers of "oriented strand board" (OSB)

Oriented strand board, or OSB, is an engineered wood product formed by layering strands (flakes) of wood in specific orientations. In appearance it has a rough and variegated surface, with the individual strips (around 2.5 by 15 cm each) lying unevenly across each other in the direction of their grain. [From Wikipedia]

These lawsuits allege that the defendants conspired to fix prices for oriented strand board, thereby creating artificially high prices for oriented strand board.

The seven manufacturers named in the most recent suit control 91 percent of the nation’s OSB manufacturing capacity.

Oriented strand board is an "engineered wood" and is often substituted for plywood. It is used in the following industries:

1. General residential construction

2. Manufactured housing

3. Building materials suppliers

4. Roofing

5. Flooring

While the residential construction market boomed, oriented strand board prices skyrocketed, the complaint said.

The OSB class action suit alleges that the producers conspired to reduce the supply of oriented strand board available for sale during a time of increased demand for the product by:

• removing production capacity through mill shutdowns;
• delaying or canceling construction of new OSB mills;
• buying needed OSB from competitors instead of making it themselves; and
• having low operating rates at mills.

As a result of these actions, oriented strand board prices rose from $200 per 1,000 square feet in April 2003 to $520 per 1,000 square feet within 18 months, according to evidence cited in the complaint.

If you purchased oriented strand board in the United States DIRECTLY from any of the above companies at any time from June 1, 2002, to the present, you are urged to contact us immediately to protect your legal rights. Please call the law offices of Audet & Partners at 800.965.1461 to speak to an attorney. The call is free and there is no obligation. You may also email us using the form on the right. Act now, as delays can harm your case.

On the other hand, if you fail to protect your legal rights now, you may lose the right to be compensated for your harm. (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).

Our firm has a great deal of experience in representing plaintiffs in class action and antitrust cases. In addition, we have the resources to handle our own cases. This means that when you call our firm, you talk to your own lawyer who has been assigned to your case.

Please contact us now. The secure form below takes only a couple of minutes to fill out, but if you are uncomfortable sending your information over the internet, please call our toll-free number at 800.965.1461 to immediately speak to an attorney. The call is free and there is no obligation. Act now, as delays can harm your case.

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.