Chinese Dry Wall Lawsuit

It makes sense to contact a Mississippi lawyer regarding the Chinese dry wall problem in your home, and the sooner the better. The problem may already affect your health, and it almost certainly will affect the value of your home.

The appearance of Chinese dry wall lawsuits dates back to 2004. That was when the building boom created a shortage of gypsum wallboard, so companies in China began shipping their product to the U.S. The need grew following the hurricanes of 2005, when rebuilding put additional pressure on wallboard supplies. Signs of possible Chinese drywall lawsuit cases first arose when construction crews noted the unpleasant odor and upper respiratory problems. As the homes were completed and people moved in, the corrosion of metals—believed due to the off-gassing of sulfur dioxide, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide—began to occur.

A Chinese dry wall lawsuit is necessary to address a serious problem. Here is why you need to protect yourself, the health of your family and the investment you have in your home:

  • Short-term health problems: Residents of the 100,000 homes believed to have Chinese dry wall report upper respiratory difficulties, nosebleeds, headaches, fatigue, skin rashes, sneezing and coughing. Household pets experience similar symptoms.
  • Potential long-term health problems: It is unknown what the long-term effects of this exposure may be. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating this issue.
  • Damage to metals, wires and pipes: Copper and other metals, particularly noted in air conditioner coils, corrode quickly in homes with Chinese dry wall.
  • The unknown: The Wall Street Journal reported in 2009 on the conundrum for homeowners who may have no economic choice but to live in homes constructed with the tainted wallboard. A retired couple in Florida interviewed for the article asked, “If this is what it is doing to your copper, what is it doing to your body?”

Class action dry wall lawsuits are almost certain to follow. But individuals with pronounced Chinese wallboard problems and costs are advised to pursue private litigation. Working with a law firm on an individual case gives more control to the homeowner, allows for more specific settlement terms and may move the case more quickly through the courts.

Also, homeowner insurance policies are largely not expected to cover damages related to tainted wallboard. This is because construction-related problems are not included in the homeowner policy. The Chinese manufacturers themselves may be the most responsible, but the exact cause of the faulty product is uncertain and past litigation against Chinese manufacturers of other toxic products indicates a poor likelihood of success. Building product suppliers and homebuilders appear to be the most likely defendants in such cases. But the landscape is legally and financially complicated.

Contact us for help

If you decide to pursue a dry wall lawsuit contact the attorneys at Luckey & Mullins, an Ocean Springs, Mississippi law firm with extensive experience in product liability and toxic mold. Luckey & Mullins is part of the Chinese Drywall Legal Network, a consortium of well-regarded law firms that work on the complex issues surrounding Chinese drywall litigation. For more information, contact us at 888-835-7018.





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