Court Approves $24M Class Action Settlement for Boynton Beach Residents

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Sept. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- West Palm Beach, FLA.  - A final order has been signed by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon approving a $24 million settlement for Boynton Beach residents of Villa Lago at Renaissance Commons.  The order also appointed Leopold Law Shareholder, Gregory S. Weiss (http://www.leopold-law.com/gregory-s-weiss), as one of the settlement class counsel.

Mr. Weiss is a complex commercial litigator who spearheads Leopold Law’s class action and business litigation practice.  In addition to serving on the Plaintiffs' Trial, Experts and Discovery Committees of Chinese Manufactured Drywall Products Litigation, hecurrently serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re: Heartland Payment Systems Data Security Breach Litigation. Mr. Weiss is a member of the Florida Bar Code and Rules of Evidence Committee and is Past President of the Martin County Bar Association.  He previously served as Chairman of the Martin County Bar Association's Litigation Committee and Young Lawyers Division, President of the UF Law Alumni Council and General Counsel for the Urban League of Palm Beach County.

The settlement order brings relief and justice to residents of the 328 unit Boynton Beach community who alleged defective Chinese Drywall caused damage to their property and filed claims in 2009.  The settlement is part of a multi-district class action (http://www.leopold-law.com/class-action-suits) litigation (MDL 2047) which consolidated lawsuits brought in several federal district courts in the Gulf Coast and mid-Atlantic regions by property owners whose homes and other properties were allegedly damaged by Chinese Drywall.

The settlement will provide residents with a fully remediated home, including the removal of problematic drywall, fire safety alarm devices, electrical distribution components (including receptacles, switches and circuit breakers), gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems.  Affected residents can apply to receive a portion of the settlement award.  The qualification criteria for the settlement fund can be found by visiting www.laed.uscourts.gov/Drywall/Settlements.htm.