Anyone knowledgeable about Masonite siding lawsuit?

[CoffeeCat]

I'm taking a chance that some DUer knows about this...

We rec'd a postcard from a law firm, which had identified our house as being
manufactured with masonite siding. Apparently, the product is defective and
there is an ongoing class-action lawsuit.

I understand what this law firm is doing. We join the suit, and they get 40
percent of the claim.

Does anyone know anything about this lawsuit? Have any DUers ever joined
a class-action regarding this Masonite siding? Apparently, the product
really is defective, and inferior. Our neighbor's house had to be re-sided.
The siding crumbles, warps and decays.

Apparently, hundreds of thousands of homes built between 1990-1998, have this
siding.

Here's more info from the law firm's site if anyone is interested: http://www.claimsourceone.com/masonite-siding-lawsuit.asp

Has anyone joined the class action....OR have you tried to file the paperwork yourself?

Thanks for any info... :)

[Wickerman]

1. try this

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/554938.html

Claimsource one many not be your best avenue, research before you sign on.

[CoffeeCat]

4. Thanks for your response...

That was my first instinct--that Claimsource will take 40 percent, including expenses.

I don't want to join a lawsuit to get some extra money. If the siding truly is defective
then we'd like to get it fixed.

I think they're banking on the fact that the economy is tanking and people want a few thousand
dollars in their pocket...so they'll just sign on, and then not use the money to fix their house.

Thanks for the link.

[Lerkfish]

2. class action suits usually benefit the bundling lawyer more than the individual

the only advantage I see is if the potential damages are lower than the costs of filing the suit yourself.

(as an example, I was part of a class action against a computer memory price fixing scheme -- all I will get is roughly 5 dollars -- which would have been silly to pursue on my own)

BUT, if your potential damages are high (like redoing your siding) than a normal lawyer individual client might be a better way to go.

spoken as someone who is NOT a lawyer, but this is my understanding.

[CoffeeCat]

6. My feeling too...

...if they take 50 percent or so--we won't be able to fix the house.

Thanks for your 2 cents!

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Wonder who I can sue. My house's 1858 wood siding has buckled, warped, and decayed. I've had to have

several pieces totally replaced!

[CoffeeCat]

5. You should go for civil damages...

...as well--intentional infliction of distress and emotional damages.

It's stressful to have your 1858 wood siding decaying!

:)

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Well the Civil War being fought near it didn't help either!