Manufacturer settles Chinese drywall cases

by Wally Northway

Published: June 22,2010

Tags: Chinese drywall, construction materials, courts, housing, lawsuit, real estate, residential construction

PLAQUEMINE, La. — Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., Ltd., one of the companies responsible for manufacturing defective Chinese drywall, has agreed to settle two Louisiana cases set to go to trial today in U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon’s courtroom in New Orleans.

Plaintiffs, Paul and Celeste Clement and John Campbell, own homes that contain Chinese drywall and brought suit against the manufacturer.

The cases involved two homes in Louisiana built with Chinese drywall manufactured by Knauf Tianjin. The cases were pending in federal court before Judge Fallon and were part of the multi-district litigation involving thousands of similarly situated homeowners.

According to Dan Bryson, a member of the plaintiffs’ trial team and a member of the Chinese Drywall Legal Network, the details of the settlement are still being negotiated but are expected to include full removal and replacement of the problematic drywall, all corroded metal and HVAC components and compensation for out of pocket expenditures while the house is being remediated.

Bryson stated, “I am pleased with the settlement and hopeful that Knauf will extend similar offers to other home and business owners plagued with the problematic drywall.”

Chinese drywall was used in the construction of thousands of homes throughout the country between 2003 and 2007 and causes blackening and pitting of electrical wires; a foul “rotten egg” odor; failure of A/C units and appliances; handles and door fixtures and the blackening of jewelry and silverware.

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