What Do the LEED Lawsuit Reactions Say About Us?

In the years that I've been reporting for Environmental Building News, I can't think of another news story that has drawn as much immediate and widespread interest as our recent coverage of the filing of a $100 million class-action suit against USGBC for allegedly defrauding the building industry based on misrepresentations of the performance of LEED-certified buildings. I quoted several of the parties involved, including the lead plaintiff, Henry Gifford.

The merits of the lawsuit itself aside (and it's got problems, as noted in the EBN article), I have found it particularly striking how many people have used the news as a flashpoint for complaining about LEED and USGBC.

I compiled some of the most notable comments in a blog post on BuildingGreen.com.

In this forum, I'd love to continue the discussion of the lawsuit, but take in a new direction.

If you've reacted to the lawsuit with criticisms of LEED or USGBC, or if you're sympathetic to LEED, why? What practical experience have you had in the industry that helped form your viewpoint? Please comment below—no prognosticating without sharing a specific experience that happened to you (such as work on a LEED project), that shaped your viewpoint.

Innovation point: based on your experience how should LEED, USGBC, GBCI, or the green building movement change to better advance sustainability?