The owners of seven Virginia homes contaminated with toxic Chinese drywall have been awarded $2.6 million by the federal judge overseeing the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation (MDL) currently underway in New Orleans. The trial was considered a “bellwether” or test case, and the decision could affect how lawsuits by thousands of other homeowners are settled.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon mandates that the plaintiffs’ homes be gutted down to the studs. The Judge also ruled that the plaintiffs were entitled to damages for the cost of personal property damaged by the drywall gases, relocation costs, and loss of use and enjoyment of the home.

In his ruling, Judge Fallon wrote that Chinese drywall “has a significantly higher average concentration of strontium and significantly more detectable levels of elemental sulfur” than U.S.-made drywall, and that the “level of corrosive sulfur gases emitted by Chinese drywall … exceed the safe level established by recognized standards, peer reviewed literature.”

“The sulfur gases released by Chinese drywall cause offending odors in homes, making them hard if not impossible to live in,” Judge Fallon said.

In addition to removing the toxic drywall, Judge Fallon’s order calls for the removal of all electrical wiring, the entire HVAC system, and many other items such as appliances, carpet, cabinetry, trim work and flooring. His ruling goes further than remediation guidelines released earlier this month by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Judge Fallon’s ruling covered only property damage and did not look at possible health effects. According to the Associated Press, the first cases with medical claims won’t be considered by the court until late 2010 or early 2011.

The cost of remediation as prescribed by Judge Fallon’s order will run anywhere between $200,000 to $300,000. However, it’s still not clear who will foot the bill. The main defendant in this case, Taishan Gypsum Co., never responded to lawsuits and did not have a lawyer present for the trial. Civil judgments in U.S. courts aren’t enforced in China.

Plaintiffs lawyers have said in the past that they would seek to seize Taishan Gypsum’s U.S.-bound vessels and shipments if it continues to ignore lawsuits.

So far, only one Chinese manufacturer — Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. — has responded to U.S. suits. A separate trial naming Knauf as a defendant was held before Judge Fallon last month. His decision in that case is still pending.

Since late 2008, the CPSC has received more than 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases.

In addition to the Chinese drywall lawsuits consolidated before Judge Fallon, thousands of cases are also pending in state courts.

To review full Chinese Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation – Findings of Fact and Conclusions Of Law Click Here.

Homes that contain toxic Chinese drywall need to be gutted, according to two federal agencies. In a joint statement issued Friday, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development advised Chinese drywall homeowners to not only remove the tainted wallboard, but to replace electrical components and wiring, gas service piping, fire suppression sprinkler systems, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

Chinese drywall victims have been waiting for a remediation protocol from the CPSC for more than a year. Since late 2008, the CPSC has received more than 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » Read more: Gut Chinese Drywall Homes, Feds Say

A Louisiana judge has ruled against an attempt by Audubon Insurance Co. to use certain policy exclusions to deny a Chinese drywall claim. The insurer, a subsidiary of American Insurance Group, had cited three exclusions in its denial of the claim: a pollution exclusion; a gradual or sudden loss exclusion; and faulty, inadequate or defective planning exclusion.

The case was brought by Simon and Rebecca Finger in Orleans Parish Civil District Court. In granting the plaintiffs’ motion, Judge Lloyd Medley ruled that the gradual or sudden loss does not apply because the damage — in this case rust or other corrosion — “is the loss, not the cause of the loss.” As to the faulty, inadequate or defective planning exclusion, the judge said Audubon provided no clear definition of the such an exclusion. » Read more: Exclusions Used to Deny Chinese Drywall Damage Claim Don’t Apply, Louisiana Judge Rules

Chinese drywall legislation currently under consideration in the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, and heavily promoted by the building industry, has Chinese drywall victims worried. The proposed legislation, which the legislators have attempted to disguise as a means to provide relief to homeowners, would actually leave the homeowners with no legal recourse if they agree to allow a builder to remediate their home.

Critics of the proposed legislation contend that lawmakers who vote for this legislation would be putting the interests of their corporate donors ahead of their constituents whose homes and lives have been shattered by toxic Chinese drywall. Chinese drywall homeowners in the State of Florida, and other voters concerned with this anti-consumer legislation, are being urged to take action to make sure this corporate-sponsored legislation does not become law. » Read more: Proposed Florida Law Would Sell Out Chinese Drywall Victims for the Sake of Special Interests

Closing arguments were heard Friday in an important Chinese drywall trial underway in federal court in New Orleans. It will now be up to U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon to determine how much a Chinese drywall manufacturer should have to pay to remediate the home of a Mandeville, Louisiana family that was built with 180 pieces of Chinese drywall.

More than 2,000 families have claims pending in the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation before Judge Fallon. Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. » Read more: Closing Arguments Made in Chinese Drywall Trial

Several lawmakers have asked the federal government to declare Chinese drywall a fire hazard. In separate letters to U.S. Fire Administrator Kevin Cochran, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon and Senator Mary Landrieu, both Louisiana Democrats, noted that the corrosion of electrical wiring caused by Chinese drywall fumes poses such a hazard. Landrieu’s letter was signed by five other Senators.

Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » Read more: Lawmakers Seek Chinese Drywall Fire Hazard Declaration

Chinese drywall has made the dream of home ownership a nightmare for one Louisiana family. That’s what the judge overseeing the first contested Chinese drywall trial in a New Orleans federal court was told yesterday during opening statements by the plaintiffs’ attorney. The case is intended as a bellwether, or test trail, to help determine property damage issues in other cases against manufacturers.

More than 2,000 families have claims pending in the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon. Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » Read more: Judge Hears Opening Statements in Chinese Drywall Test Case

Federal emergency officials have rejected Florida’s request for aid for the victims of defective Chinese drywall. According to HeraldTribune.com, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have determined that the Chinese drywall crisis “does not constitute an emergency or major disaster incident.”

Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. The bulk of those reports – 1,759 – have come from Florida. » Read more: FEMA Rejects Florida’s Request for Chinese Drywall Help

Federal safety regulators are seeking information on fires that might be related to defective Chinese drywall. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has asked fire safety professionals nationwide to alert it of any fires that could be related to the tainted wallboard.

Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » Read more: CPSC Seeking Info on Chinese Drywall Fires

Could Chinese drywall be killing people? Well, it seems that nine people living in homes with Chinese drywall have died from various ailments, and now several lawmaker are demanding answers.

According to a report in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said death reports were among the Chinese drywall complaints it has received, however it has not found direct scientific evidence to support a link between the deaths and the drywall. The death reports were first uncovered by the Scripps Howard News Service, which filed a freedom of information request to get copies of 2,700 drywall complaints filed with the agency, the Times-Picayune said. » Read more: Chinese Drywall Health Concerns Mount Over Death Reports

Some Virginia homeowners who are plaintiffs in the first federal Chinese drywall trial gave testimony yesterday about the toll the disaster has taken on their lives. According to a report in the Associated Press, their testimony at times became emotional.

At least 3,000 people from across the country have filed suit over defective Chinese drywall. All of the Chinese drywall lawsuits filed in federal courts have been consolidated in the US District Court in New Orleans under Judge Eldon E. Fallon as part of a multidistrict litigation. » Read more: Chinese Drywall Homeowners Testify in New Orleans

Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Ltd. Co has dropped out of the first Chinese drywall trial currently underway in New Orleans. Knauf was not actually a defendant in the lawsuit being heard, but had volunteered to be the intervening manufacturer on behalf of Chinese-government-owned Taishan Gypsum Co. Taishan has been a no show at proceedings, and has not responded to any Chinese drywall lawsuits.

At least 3,000 people from across the country have filed suit over defective Chinese drywall. All of the Chinese drywall lawsuits filed in federal courts have been consolidated in the US District Court in New Orleans under Judge Eldon E. Fallon as part of a multidistrict litigation. » Read more: Knauf Plasterboard Bows Out of First Chinese Drywall Trial

The first Chinese drywall trial will finally open today in a New Orleans federal courtroom. The case involves seven Virginia plaintiffs whose homes have drywall manufactured by China-based Taishan Gypsum Co.

Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 2,833 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » Read more: First Federal Chinese Drywall Trial Set to Start

Homeowners have been given some guidance on determining if their home has a Chinese drywall problem. The Chinese drywall guidelines were issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

According to the CPSC, the two-step guidance requires a visual inspection that must show blackening of copper electrical wiring and/or air conditioning evaporator coils. New drywall must have been installed in the property (for new construction or renovations) between 2001 and 2008. » Read more: Guidelines for Identifying Defective Chinese Drywall Released

The litigation involving the Chinese drywall debacle will kick into high gear on Friday. A hearing in federal court in New Orleans is to focus on seven Virginia homes built with Chinese drywall, and could set the bar for the remediation of homes with the tainted wallboard nationwide.

At least 3,000 people from across the country have filed suit over defective Chinese drywall. All of the Chinese drywall lawsuits filed in federal courts have been consolidated in the US District Court in New Orleans under Judge Eldon E. Fallon as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). One single class action lawsuit alone filed against Knauf Gips KG, its Chinese affiliate, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd., and 600 other defendants, involves nearly 2,100 plaintiffs from Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. » Read more: Major Chinese Drywall Hearing Set for Friday

National Gypsum, a U.S. drywall manufacturer, is defending itself against claims that its wallboard has caused corrosion and other problems in homes similar to what has been blamed on Chinese drywall.

Last week, we reported that two Florida families had filed suit against National Gypsum over allegedly defective drywall. George and Brenda Brincku of Alva, and Lydia and Apolinar Garcia of Cape Coral, were listed as lead plaintiffs in the National Gypsum lawsuit. According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, the Brincku’s say their home contains only domestic drywall, and 90 percent of it was made by National Gypsum. The family has experienced extensive corrosion to their home, and a Florida health official told the Herald Tribune that this past spring that the Brincku’s residence was one of the worst examples of an affected home he had seen. The complaint said tests conducted by the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) on drywall from the Brincku home supported the lawsuit’s claims. » Read more: National Gypsum Refutes Defective Drywall Claims

A Chinese drywall lawsuit has been filed by the Louisiana attorney general against manufacturers and home developers. The lawsuit claims the state of Louisiana has and will continue to suffer economic loss because of the defective Chinese drywall.

Defendants in the suit include Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, one of the major manufacturers of Chinese drywall. Other international and domestic manufacturers, distributors, and importers of toxic Chinese wallboard are also named as defendants. » Read more: Louisiana AG Files Suit Over Chinese Drywall

One Florida county is seeking a disaster declaration because of Chinese drywall. In seeking the declaration from Gov. Charlie Crist, officials in Broward County said Chinese drywall has impacted some sections of the county as badly as a hurricane might.

A disaster declaration would make federal and state financial assistance to homeowners in Broward County whose homes have been ruined by Chinese drywall. » Read more: Broward County Wants Chinese Drywall Disaster Declaration

The litigation involving Chinese drywall will soon kick into high gear, with the first bellwether trials expected to start this month. More than 3,000 people across the country have filed suit against the manufacturers, suppliers, builders and other entities that played a role in the Chinese drywall crisis.

All of the Chinese drywall lawsuits filed in federal courts have been consolidated in the US District Court in New Orleans under Judge Eldon E. Fallon as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). One single class action lawsuit alone filed against Knauf Gips KG, its Chinese affiliate, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd., and 600 other defendants, involves nearly 2100 plaintiffs from Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. » Read more: First Chinese Drywall Trials Start This Month