July 2005

A highly anticipated class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of faulty CAL-SHAKE roofing material has concluded an important phase, with the jury finding in favor of the class.

According to a communication from law firm involved in the class action:

“CAL-SHAKE was manufactured, distributed, advertised and sold between 1981 and 1995. CAL-SHAKE was originally manufactured by a company called Shake Company of California, between 1981 and 1985. For purposes of this class action, this product is referred to as “Old Cal Shake.” In l986, several Principals of the Company left, and sold their interests; whereupon the name of the company was changed to Cal-Shake, Inc., and for purposes of this class action, this product is referred to as “New Cal Shake.”

The Class reached a settlement with New Cal Shake (roofs installed between 1986 and 1995) for $62 million. The Court must still approve this settlement, and we have filed for preliminary approval of the New Cal-Shake settlement, and the hearing date for this is July 11, 2005. Final approval will be after formal notice of the settlement is sent to all class members, which will probably be in October or November, 2005.

The Class proceeded to a jury trial against Old Cal-Shake (roofs installed between 1981 and 1985) on May 9, 2005, and the jury found in favor of the class, and determined that Old Cal Shake was negligent. There is an additional phase to determine a damages award against Old Cal Shake, which will be conducted in the forum of a bench trial before Judge Flinn, and this hearing will be on August 1, 2005, at 1:15 p.m.