Proposed settlement of class action relating to Vanguard- and Viega-brand brass plumbing components

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Jul 11, 2014, 08:30 ET

LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Viega LLC ("Viega") announces that a settlement has been reached in a class action about certain plumbing fittings, components and sub-components ("Viega Brass Fittings" i.e., potable water plumbing system fittings or other components and sub-components used in potable water plumbing systems made from UNS C3600, UNS C37700, UNS C36500 brass, or similar copper alloys with 15+% zinc content manufactured and/or distributed by Viega or its affiliates). Plaintiffs and others allege the fittings may fail or have an impeded "useful life." Viega denies all claims made in the lawsuit and maintains that Viega Brass Fittings are not defective. The Court has not decided who is right. The parties agreed to the Settlement to end the litigation. This Settlement augments a prior proposed settlement and enhances benefits to eligible claimants.

You are included in the Settlement as a Settlement Class Member if you are a Person that owns or owned a structure that contains or contained Viega Brass Fittings or are such Person's spouse, joint owner, heir, executor, administrator, mortgagee, tenant, creditor, lender, predecessor, successor, subsequent owner or occupant, lessee, trust and trustee, attorney, agent, assignee or have standing to make a claim for a Settlement Class Member. Settlement Class Members, and certain affiliated/related parties, who own or have owned buildings, homes, residences or any other structures located in Clark County, Nevada are also members of the "Clark County Subclass." Settlement Class Members who currently own a residential property located in AR, AZ, CA, DE, HI, KS, LA, NV, NH, OK, WV and WY, are also included in the "Useful Life Subclass." Insurance carriers are members of the Settlement Class or Clark County Subclass if their insureds fall within these categories and the carriers paid claims for a leak or occlusion before June 20, 2014. Persons who seek contribution or indemnity from Viega on past settlement of, or judgments on, claims with Settlement Class Members or other subclass members are members of the Settlement Class or respective subclass(es), if they paid those settlements or judgments before June 20, 2014. Subrogated insurance carriers or people seeking contribution or indemnity from Viega from the vesting of legal rights occurring after June 20, 2014, are not Settlement Class Members or members of any subclass, but only succeed to rights of the relevant Settlement Class Member or subclass member.

The Los Angeles Superior Court will hold a hearing in this case, Verdejo v. Vanguard Piping Systems, Inc., Case No. BC448383, on September 17, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. to consider whether to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate; attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses; and a payment of $5,000 per home to the Plaintiffs. These payments will not reduce the amount of benefits available to the Settlement Class.

Those included in the Settlement Class have legal rights and options, such as excluding themselves from or objecting to the Settlement. More information is in the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action available at www.VerdejoSettlement.com.

SOURCE Viega LLC