Thousands File Suit Over Chinese Drywall
The number of people filing suit over defective Chinese drywall has hit 3,000.
According to a report on Law360.com, Chinese drywall lawsuits allege that sulfur levels in the wallboard are abnormally high, causing problems with air conditioning systems, appliances, internal wiring and other electrical systems. Plaintiffs also allege that the Chinese drywall produces a foul odor and causes a variety of respiratory and other health problems for those who live in the affected homes.
Most pending Chinese drywall lawsuits, have been consolidated in a multidistrict litigation in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana that is being overseen by Judge Eldon E. Fallon. The lawsuits in that litigation include an omnibus class action lawsuit involving 2100 plaintiffs filed against Knauf Plasterboard Tainjin Co. Ltd. and 600 other defendants last week. We reported previously that New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton is the lead plaintiff on the Knauf lawsuit.
Bellwether trials are expected to begin in the Chinese drywall litigation in January. The first will involve a set of cases from Virginia, and another Chinese firm, Taishan Gyspum, which has already been issued a default judgment for failing to respond to lawsuits.
