The military is a prominent part of the North Carolina landscape. With the number of bases in the state and military members who need housing, private companies often provide it. However, as with any rental, problems can arise. Some may be dangerous to health and safety. If the companies do not act in a timely fashion or do not act at all, a legal claim might be necessary. If the risks are widespread and impact multiple people, it might be possible to file a class action case. To fight large corporations and address allegations of wrongdoing, it is imperative to have assistance pursuing the matter.
Judge allows mold lawsuits to move forward
Military families stationed at two installations in North Carolina filed lawsuits because of several problems at the residences, including mold, rodents, pests, failing utilities, rot, disrepair and more. The private housing companies asked that these claims be dismissed, but the federal judge is allowing them to move forward. The plaintiffs have also considered pursuing the claim as a class action lawsuit. The companies requested that the possibility be dismissed, but the judge denied that as well.
Four military families are involved in the complaint against the housing companies. The families complained to the military and the housing companies prior to filing their case and the problems were insufficiently addressed. These cases are added to the list of similar claims military families have filed. For one family stationed at Fort Bragg, the roof of the home was so damaged that a worker fell through it when trying to perform repairs. One lawsuit was filed in August 2020 by several families at Fort Bragg. The other in September 2020 by families stationed at Camp Lejeune.
A class action case can hold companies accountable for wrongdoing and negligence
With class action lawsuits, the discovery process will generally need to move forward before it is determined if a class action is warranted. For these families, this has not happened yet. A class action remains a possibility. In situations where multiple plaintiffs have comparable claims against corporations, it is often beneficial to have a class action. In this series of cases, it is unfortunate that service members are subjected to this type of treatment. To compound the issue is the lack of action by the military and the housing companies’ attempts to fight the legal claims. When people are confronted with corporations who behave unethically, do not adhere to agreements or violate other laws, having professional advice can be essential with determining the right course of action.