1-855-722-2552
More than 2,100 homeowners, mostly in Florida, Virginia and Louisiana, have filed complaints with the federal government about Chinese drywall that was installed in their homes. Now, a new study has confirmed their worst fears — the allegedly defective drywall may be damaging their health and their property.
On Nov. 23, 2009, federal investigators released a study that turned up a strong association between Chinese drywall — drywall that has been installed in thousands of South Florida homes — and problems with corrosion and damage to household electrical components.
The research by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also suggested that Chinese drywall may be causing respiratory and other health problems for residents of homes with the allegedly defective drywall.
If you believe your home is among the thousands built with this defective product, the Florida product liability lawyers at Gordon & Partners can provide you with information about your legal rights and help you can seek financial compensation for property damages and harm to your health. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling 1 (855) 722-2552 or use our convenient online contact form.
Does your home contain Chinese drywall?
Does your South Florida home reek of rotten eggs? Have you noticed problems with appliances and plumbing that have required frequent repair? Have you or a family member suffered from unexplained respiratory problems, nosebleeds, or rashes? If yes, your home may be one of thousands that were allegedly built with defective Chinese drywall.
Class action lawsuit s have been filed by homeowners who allege their homes were constructed with the defective product. The Chinese drywall reportedly emits a high level of sulfurous gas that smells like rotten eggs. The noxious gas not only drives people from their homes but also corrodes metal and ruins electric devices.
According to research performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the drywall from China does not contain pure gypsum, as is the industry standard. Instead, the drywall contains a mix of gypsum and cellulose. When the two are combined, they deteriorate and emit the sulfurous gas.
As many as 60,000 American homes could have the drywall at issue in the lawsuits. Many of those homes are located in Southern Florida and were constructed during the housing boom in 2004-2007. During this time period, drywall shortages apparently forced many builders to import millions of pounds of drywall from China, much of which contained the gypsum-cellulose mix.
Now, many homeowners are worried about how this problem will affect their future. Replacing the drywall has been estimated to cost nearly one-third of the cost of the average $300,000 to $500,000 home. That doesn’t include the cost of appliances, such as cooling units and home computers, that were ruined due to corrosion. Some homeowners are concerned that prolonged exposure to the gas will cause health problems. The Florida Department of Health reports that the levels of emission pose no immediate health threat. Despite the assurance by public officials, some residents exposed to the gas have reported respiratory problems, rashes and nosebleeds.
Lawsuits are targeting building companies as well as drywall manufacturers, both state-side and abroad, including the German multinational company Knauf GIPS KG, which allegedly manufactured defective drywall at its facilities in Tianjin, China.
If you are among the ranks of disenchanted Florida homeowners who may have suffered due to the use of defective Chinese drywall in your home, you should contact the Florida product liability lawyers of Gordon & Partners today for a free consultation. Please complete our online contact form or call us toll free at 1 (855) 722-2552. The Chinese drywall attorneys of Gordon & Partners have the experience and expertise that you and your family need when dealing with the makers of defective products . We can help you evaluate the harm to your home, health and belongings, and we can help you calculate your total damages.
