Govt. Denied Immunity From FEMA Trailer Lawsuits

Lawsuit Fema A judge says there is evidence that FEMA delayed its response to concerns about formaldehyde levels in its trailers.

by The Associated Press

Published: Fri, October 03, 2008 - 4:49 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, October 03, 2008 - 4:51 pm CST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A judge has refused to give the federal
government total immunity from lawsuits that claim many Gulf Coast
hurricane victims were exposed to potentially dangerous fumes while
living in FEMA trailers.
Friday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt says
there is evidence that the Federal Emergency Management Agency
delayed its response to concerns about formaldehyde levels in its
trailers due to liability concerns.
Lawyers for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita have accused
FEMA of negligence for sheltering people in trailers with elevated
levels of formaldehyde. The preservative can cause breathing
problems and is classified as a carcinogen.
Roughly 800 storm victims are named as plaintiffs in the cases
before Engelhardt, but plaintiffs attorneys want the judge to
certify a class action on behalf of thousands of people who lived
in FEMA trailers after the 2005 hurricanes.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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cmb1 Says:

Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 3:20 pm

Coffeecup you are the exception. Because as you and everyone else knows the tax payers federal gov’t have been taken advantage of over and over again from Katrina.. You don’t hear the people of Texas yelling like the people from N O did?

coffeecup Says:

Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Pamdlee, I hope you never come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My daughter and I live in Bay Saint Louis, Ms. We lived in a FEMA trailer until April of 2008. Our trailer was tested, and found to have higher than normal levels of Formaldehyde. My daughter has always been a staright “A” student with very few absences from school each year. That is until the 2006-2007 school term. She has had asthma since she was a small child, she is now 14. The health issues that have been the reason for her many “sick days” are listed as known health issues on the Formaldehyde brocure that was given to me along with the results of the air quality test. I am thankful for having those trailers to live in. But my child’s health should not be the price we had to pay for shelter. Despite pamdlee’s opinion of the people along the gulf coast, we are NOT animals. We are people, we are families. I’ve not asked for money, all I want is my daughter healthy and safe. Would you ask for anything less for your child?

pamdlee Says:

Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 1:18 am

There was stickers in these trailers informing residents of high levels of formaldehyde. My husband and I purchased several of these trailers with the knowledge of this. Again, it all goes back to people wanting something for nothing! The alternative to not having a travel trailer would have been sleeping in a tent city or shelter elseware. Be Thankful the you were provided with a means to shelter you and your families. SHAME ON YOU FOR WANTING MORE, MORE, MORE!!! Never again will I go back to New Orleans in effort to help anyone there. I learned a valuable lesson while I was there during Katrina. The entire world should be made aware of some of the horrible events done by the New Orleans citizens and then wonder, should I help them. My answer is “NO”. Let them do the best they can to survive and live like animals as they do. They don’t appreciate any assistance without monetarty rewards. I say, let the entire city go under next time. It would be better for everyone…