Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Judge OKs more settlements in class action Kitec plumbing case

Click to enlarge photo

This IPEX water pipe fitting was taken from a Pulte home in Anthem. The corroded fittings can cause declining water pressure and leaks.

Additional settlements were approved today in a valley-wide plumbing defect lawsuit.

Deals reached with six builders and two plumbers that installed Kitec plumbing fixtures during the housing boom were fair to homeowners, said District Court Judge Timothy Williams.

The settlement funds will be added to those reached previously in the lawsuit and will allow affected homeowners to have a complete repiping of their homes at no cost to them.

According to court records, Kitec fixtures corrode from a process called dezincification in which water removes zinc from brass fittings and turns it into silt that collects in the pipes. Over time, the accumulated zinc causes blockages that can potentially rupture water lines.

Kitec-maker IPEX agreed to pay $90 million but that settlement has been appealed by Sharp Plumbing to the state Supreme Court.

Wednesday’s settlements include:

-- Classic Plumbing: $5,245,000 for 2,688 homes constructed by seven builders

-- Desert Wind Homes: $194,400

-- DR Horton: $1,309,900 for about 368 houses

-- H&H Homes: $126,000 for 35 houses

-- KB Homes (second settlement): $5,747,796 for 2,383 houses

-- Pulte and PNII: $3,437,500 for 550 houses

-- Wexford Homes: $625,000 for 72 houses

Additionally, Lakewood Plumbing contributed $108,000 to Desert Wind Homes for a combined total of $302,400.

A trial for remaining defendants is scheduled for Sept. 30.

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