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View Full Version : US lawsuits may flood China drywalls



MarketNeutral
11th April 2010, 11:51 AM
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2010/04/us-lawsuits-may-flood-china-drywalls/

Houses made with drywall produced in China have been plagued with numerous safety and health issues. Now a lawsuit brought by U.S. homeowners is targeting the Chinese drywall sector. From Asia Times:

In a 108-page ruling issued on April 8 on behalf of seven homeowners in Virginia, Judge Fallon awarded more than US$481,000 to one family alone. The judge has been presiding in New Orleans over a consolidated class action lawsuit known as the “Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation” which combines several lawsuits from different US states.

The ruling could lead to a flood of lawsuits in US state courts around the country involving builders and suppliers after all sorts of problems surfaced in thousands of homes where drywall – gypsum plaster panels used to construct interior walls and ceilings – made in China was installed early in the past decade. An arm of the Chinese government, and a drywall company controlled by that entity are named in the lawsuit, Germano, et al v Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. [1]

“There are cases set for trial in June in Florida against builders; and, in September, there are seven cases set to go against the homeowners’ builders, installers and distributors of the Chinese drywall,” said Julie Quinn, a state senator from Louisiana, where many of the damaged homes are located.

1970 Silver Art
12th April 2010, 05:18 AM
The homeowners will probably win their cases but will they be able to collect on whatever civil judgment the civil judge awards them? If so, how much will they be able to get? It is one thing to win a judgment in a civil case but collecting on that judgment will be a totally different story IMO especially if the Chinese companies appeal and keep this tied up in courts. Then again there could be a settlement. We will have to see what happens with this.