Suit targets maker of mildew-proof sealant
ANCHORAGE, AK – An Alaska woman has sued a maker of outdoor wood finishes and sealers, saying the products didn't protect her home against mildew and moisture as promised.
Lawyers who filed suit last week in Alaska Superior Court in Juneau hope to certify the case as a class action and add more plaintiffs.
"From our investigation, we believe there are as many as thousands of Alaska homes that are affected," says Matthew Singer, an Anchorage attorney who brought the suit, which accuses a California company misleading buyers about what its products could do.
The suit says the company knew its products were not reasonably resistant to the growth of mildew, mold, fungus or discoloration on exterior wood surfaces.
The suit also says that the products contained a damaging "chemical instability," that they did not effectively protect against harmful ultraviolet light, and that they could actually promote mildew formation.