Jury: FEMA Trailer Wasn't Dangerous

A federal jury on Thursday rejected a New Orleans family's claims that the government-issued trailer they lived in after Hurricane Katrina was defective and exposed them to dangerous fumes.

A jury of five men and three women decided that a trailer made by Gulf Stream Coach Inc. and occupied by Alana Alexander and her 12-year-old son, Christopher Cooper, was not "unreasonably dangerous" in its construction.

The jury also concluded that Fluor Enterprises Inc., which had a contract to install FEMA trailers, wasn't negligent in doing so. The federal government wasn't a defendant in this first of several "bellwether" trials.

After eight days of testimony, the jury heard closing arguments in the case against Gulf Stream Coach and Fluor Enterprises.

Alexander and Christopher lived in a FEMA trailer for 19 months after Hurricane Katrina damaged their home in August 2005.

Alexander's lawyers claimed elevated levels of formaldehyde in the family's trailer aggravated Cooper's asthma and increased his risk of getting cancer. Formaldehyde, a chemical commonly found in construction materials, can cause breathing problems and has been classified as a carcinogen.

More CBS coverage of FEMA:
FEMA Red Tape Keeps Families in Trailers
Katrina FEMA Trailer Turmoil
FEMA Disolves Gulf Coast Recovery Office

Plaintiffs' attorneys accused Gulf Stream and other trailer makers of using shoddy materials and methods in a rush to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency's unprecedented demand for temporary shelters after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Gulf Stream denied its trailer jeopardized the health of Alexander and her family. Andrew Weinstock, a lawyer for the Nappanee, Indiana-based company, said FEMA had purchased thousands of trailers from Gulf Stream since 1992 without receiving any formaldehyde complaints until 2006.

[candy-apple13]

What this article fails to mention is that the plaintiff took her son off of his asthma medications for two years. I'm thinking that maybe that had a more adverse effect on him than the trailer.

[golfered2]

another example of poor workmanship by UNION workers!!!!

[billvgerber]

Don't worry, when they get their free health care they'll be taken care of.

[rightbehind]

I bet the cold wind and rain would have done more damage. Glad to see there was a common sense jury.

[stn_sage]

Maybe the jurors would have come up with a different decision if they had actually observed it first-hand!

Presuming they were actually allowed to see a video of what it looked like inside, a video can NEVER impart the oder of formaldehyde, for that you really need to EXPERIENCE it!

As the government has already admitted that these trailers are dangerous via prohibiting there usage, I see this as a BAD decision!

[rwsmith29456]

I know (firsthand) that a trailer can be noxious enough with formaldehyde to make your eyes and throat burn. But these guys got a place to live FOR FREE when their homes were destroyed by nature's doing. Not only do people want the government to take care of them, they want to sue the government so they can get the really big bucks from the cash cow.

[nolapearl]

My sister (a white Republican) lived in a FEMA trailer after Katrina and she was constantly sick and coughing and had a hard time breathing. She's back in her house and no problems anymore. Hmmmm! And maybe if the US Corps of Engineers had done their job in the first place, most of these people wouldn't have needed government help at all.

[retiredgustav]

I don't know about the old FEMA trailers, but the one I was in for 8 months after Ike was constructed with wallboard and the a/c took the air from the outside instead of recirculating is as most a/c systems do.

[au_fait]

You have to be kidding, USCOE fault, how about not building or living below sea-level. That is common sense. You can only engineer for so much!

[stuart-johns]

During hurricanes Jean and Francis, FEMA delivered to Florida Gulfstream trailers that were determined to be a health hazard due to high levels of formaldahyde which was making people sick.

FEMA had to remove the trailers immediately but nobody here sued as I recall. And that's all I ever heard about it.

[bubbadubba]

Gulfstream builds the finest trailers in the world, period.
I would have no problem living my entire life in a Gulfstream.
Now Gulfstream and Fluor should sue the plaintiffs and their lawyers for legal fees since they have won the case.
I am sick of money grubbing lying stealing attorneys trying to get rich with manure cases.
Sick of it! Every American pays almost $2,000 a year in products they buy directly related to bogus product liability lawsuits. I NEED THAT MONEY.
Now Gulfstream do your duty as a proud American company and sue them for your attorney fees and damages to your reputation.
If I could afford a Gulfstream I would buy one today.

[bobnjersey]

[Gulfstream builds the finest trailers in the world, period.
I would have no problem living my entire life in a Gulfstream.]

i suggest you do just that ... go get the trailer these people lived in ... and spend all your day inside w/ the windows and doors shut.

sounds like it couldn't possibly have any negative effects on you ... since you're clearly already a moron as it is.