While most personal property items that sustain damages contain metals (the metal corrodes from toxic compounds present in the air), clothing is now an item of concern for homeowners seeking remedies for their losses. The reason clothing can be considered a damaged item due to defective drywall, is that the sulfuric odor in some cases can not be removed – the clothing is thus useless.
Senator Julie Quinn of Louisiana proposed a bill that was approved today by the La. Senate Insurance Committee, and will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration. The New York Times reported that the bill “would bar property insurers from canceling, refusing to renew, or increasing premiums or deductibles because of Chinese drywall at a property”.
Chinese drywall – Once all the potentially affected components have been removed and the house has been aired out and cleansed, the property is subject to certification. An engineering company must certify the home is habitable.
The most recent development pertains to the necessary “level” or “scope” of repair (a.k.a. remediation) to fix a home that contains tainted and defective drywall. Judge Eldon Fallon is the presiding judge, and issued a significant ruling Thursday that established the first monetary judgment against a Chinese manufacturer of drywall. It was a landmark decision to say the least: $2.6 million was awarded in damages for seven Virginia homes built with Taishan Co. drywall. In addition to the significant monetary judgment, Judge Fallon issued a 108 page ruling that detailed the necessary level of remediation – homes should be “gutted” because of the possible risks associated with tainted Chinese drywall.
Judge Eldon Fallon awarded damages of $2.6 million Thursday to the owners of seven homes in Virginia, reported the Herald Tribune Friday.
A Chinese drywall ruling was made on Thursday, April 8, by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon in New Orleans, awarding seven Virginia homeowners $2.6 million in damages.
The seven Virginia homeowners were chosen as representatives of homes affected by the toxic Chinese drywall across the country- one Virginia Beach family, two in Newport News, and four in Williamsburg.
Homeowners target ‘toxic’ Chinese drywall
March 29: After millions of sheets of Chinese drywall were imported into the U.S. after mass destruction from the 2005 hurricane season caused a shortage of U.S materials, a federal lawsuit is now demanding that a Chinese manufacturer pay damages for what they say were toxic materials. NBC’s Mark Potter reports
