MOUNDSVILLE – The administrator of a deceased Marshall County woman's estate is suing Lumber Liquidators alleging exposure to Chinese-made laminate flooring containing formaldehyde caused her cancer and premature death.
According to the Marshall Circuit Court filing, plaintiff Erin Lynn Fraunfelter, as the administrator of the estate of Shelia Lynn Morgan, filed the complaint against the defendant Lumber Liquidators, Inc., alleging negligence and breach of warranty.
The suit states Morgan, who passed away in July 2017, had purchased laminate wood flooring manufactured in China from a Lumber Liquidators store in West Virginia. After seeing a "60 Minutes" news report about the flooring containing toxic formaldehyde gas that was found to cause cancer and other illnesses, Morgan contacted Lumber Liquidators to return the flooring. The suit states the plaintiffs have yet to be reimbursed for the purchase or installation.
The plaintiff alleges Morgan's exposure to formaldehyde from the defendant's flooring caused her to develop cancer and a premature death.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, costs and pre- and post-judgment costs against Lumber Liquidators. She is represented by Jacob M. Robinson of Robinson Law Offices in Wheeling.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jeffrey Cramer.
Marshall Circuit Court case number 19-c-160