Class action filed against Carter Holt

AUCKLAND: A multimilliondollar class action has been filed by building and homeowners over leaky building products supplied by Carter Holt Harvey.

Fedup property owners are seeking at least $40 million in damages after their properties were constructed with Shadowclad.

The Ministry of Education alleges the product, already subject to court proceedings, was defective and left the ministry with about 800 leaky school buildings.

The estimated repair bill for the leaky school buildings the ministry is seeking has been reported as more than $1.1 billion.

The class action was filed at the Auckland High Court yesterday on behalf of owners expressing concern over ‘‘weathertightness’’ issues with Shadowclad.

‘‘In 2014 the Fair Go television programme found 24 property owners who believed they had been supplied faulty or substandard Shadowclad material.

‘‘Given Fair Go’s research, the extent of the Ministry of Education’s claim, and the approaches we have had, clearly the issue is significant.

‘‘This has led to the funded class action,’’ Adina Thorn, of Adina Thorn Lawyers, said.

She said 117 owners of properties from around the country had joined forces and would not face out of pocket expenses while the litigation funding was in place.

Although the claim is set for at least $40 million, Ms Thorn said it was likely to round up to around $50 million in the wake of recent developments.

Ms Thorn said further claimants could still be accepted but they would have to get in quickly to be a part of an action without having to meet any high legal, court and technical costs. — NZME