Thursday, September 16, 2010

CHINESE DRYWALL CLAIMS STILL BEING ACCEPTED IN MDL

Lead Counsel, Arnold Levin, has decided that the Plaintiff Steering Committee may file additional interventions or complaints against Knauf, Taishan, and any other identifiable Chinese manufacturer. Knauf, one of the largest manufacturers of defective Chinese Drywall, has accepted service for home owners in the MDL litigation out of New Orleans.


The toxic Chinese drywall plaguing most of the Gulf Coast was used in the construction of homes in the Birmingham area. The drywall was imported into the U.S between 2005 and 2008 and used particularly in 2006, when there was a shortage of building supplies after several hurricanes and during the building boom. The toxic material is known to emit a sulfuric compound that corrodes metals and may cause upper respiratory problems. While a sulfur odor in a home may indicate the product was used, the main indicator would be if the homeowner has had to replace air conditioning coils more than once over the past few years. Also, home owners can look on the back of the drywall, possibly in the attic, to see if it has any Chinese markings such as “Knauf-Tianjin” or is stamped “Made in China.”

There are many reasons to choose to litigate through the MDL against Knauf. U.S. District Court Judge Eldon Fallon ordered Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd., a committee of attorneys representing plaintiffs and certain drywall installers, suppliers and insurers to participate in mediation in New Orleans in August. Fallon wanted the parties to discuss the "global resolution of claims," according to an entry in the court record. Fallon "encouraged all parties to consider global settlement rather than individual resolution of claims." Fallon has ordered the same parties to participate in mediation again in September. This is very promising for homeowners affected by Chinese drywall.

If you believe you have defective Chinese drywall in your home and experienced repeated AC coil failures, electrical issues, appliance failures, tarnished fixtures, sulfur odors in your home and/or suffer with respiratory issues, nose bleeds, headaches and or unexplained rashes, please contact me.

FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION, CONTACT BOOTH SAMUELS AT BOOTHS@PITTMANDUTTON.COM OR CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-515.8880.