Trex subject of a class-action lawsuit

A plaintiffs' class-action law firm in Washington has filed suit against Winchester composite deck maker Trex, alleging certain product defects, including surface flaking.

In a statement released Friday, the company acknowledged the problem, but said it was isolated, affecting only a small percentage of decking material manufactured at its Fernley, Nev., plant beginning in 2003.

The issue has since been "remediated," the company said.

Trex took out a $45 million warranty reserve in the third quarter of 2007 and continues to honor warranties covering the affected product line.

"We believe we have fully met our obligations to our customers and that these claims are completely without merit," said President and CEO Ronald W. Kaplan. "We believe we have been wrongfully targeted in this case and, without exception, we stand firmly behind our warranty."

Daily Staff Report