Insight from attorney Scott Weinstein of Morgan & Morgan, PA was featured in a recent article on Bloomberg.com entitled “China Drywall Emits Gas; No Tie to Illness, U.S. Says (Update 3).” The article, written by Mark Drajem, summarizes the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recent findings on Chinese drywall, which has been linked to sulfur odors and damage to wires and air conditioning units. The CPSC investigators found elevated sulfur emissions in the Chinese drywall they tested, but did not find sufficient evidence that it causes the headaches, asthma, and nosebleeds that many homeowners have experienced.
In response to the large number of defective Chinese drywall claims being filed throughout the country, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order centralizing In re: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2047, in June. The MDL consolidated Chinese drywall lawsuits in the Eastern District of Louisiana before Judge Eldon E. Fallon. Scott Weinstein, who has been named to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Chinese drywall MDL, explains in the article that plummeting housing prices have left many homeowners unable to sell homes that have been contaminated by Chinese drywall.
Compounding the complicated issues surrounding Chinese drywall is that fact that it may prove difficult for U.S. courts to hold Chinese manufacturers accountable for this defective product. In the article, Weinstein states that Knauf Gips KG and Beijing New Building Materials Plc are two of the major Chinese drywall suppliers. During a recent visit to China, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum asked Chinese suppliers to pay for the damage caused to homes built with the defective drywall. However, whether these suppliers will cooperate with U.S. requests remains to be seen.
To read “China Drywall Emits Gas; No Tie to Illness, U.S. Says (Update 3)” on Bloomberg.com, please visit: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=afNV0nTV7y_k.
If you are interested in learning more about Chinese drywall, visit Morgan & Morgan's Defective Chinese Drywall Resource Center. Informational articles about the signs and causes of defective Chinese drywall, potential health risks, property damage issues, and more are available on this webpage for consumers to review. If you believe your home may have been built with Chinese drywall, complete the Free Case Evaluation form to have your potential claim reviewed by a Chinese drywall attorney.
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Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with offices nationwide. The firm handles product liability cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit ForthePeople.com for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.