In an order dated July 27, Judge Eldon E. Fallon announced the members of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation (MDL NO. 2047).  Jerrold Parker, Managing Partner with Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, was appointed  to the  PSC.

All pending Chinese Drywall lawsuits filed around the country have been consolidated before Judge Fallon in the  U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans. On July 2, the Court issued Pretrial Orders regarding procedures for the transfer of cases, and appointing Plaintiffs’ and  Defendants’ Liaison Counsel.  On June 9, a monthly status conference was held before Judge Fallon to consider issues raised by Liaison Counsel.  The next monthly status conference will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., CST.

Jordan Chaikin, an attorney with Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, said the firm was pleased with Mr. Parker’s appointment.  “It is a tremendous honor and  responsibility to be appointed to the Committee,” he said.   “We look forward to opportunity to represent Chinese drywall plaintiffs in this way.” Parker Waichman Alonso LLP filed the first Chinese drywall lawsuit in federal court earlier this year.

The PSC  will, among other things,  conduct and coordinate the discovery stage of this litigation with the defendant’s representatives or committee. The PSC will also act as a spokesperson for all plaintiffs at pretrial proceedings and in response to any inquiries by the Court.

Judge Fallon appointed  Arnold Levin to be lead counsel of the PSC.  Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel, Russ Herman, was appointed as an ex-officiomember of the Committee. Other attorneys appointed to the PSC are:

Dawn M. Barrios
Daniel E. Becnel, Jr.
Victor Manuel Diaz Ervin
Amanda Gonzalez
Ben Gordon
Hugh P. Lambert
Gerald E. Meunier
James Robert Reeves
Christopher Seeger
Bruce William Steckler
Scott Weinstein

Appointments expire one year from the date of Judge Fallon’s order, however appointees to the PSC may apply to be reappointed at that time.