Class-action status certified in Chinese drywall lawsuit; should speed process for plaintiffs May 29, 2010

It can be said that Louisiana has seen its share of issues, upon reflecting on the last decade.  First it was Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans, then the Chinese drywall crisis became apparent, as its cumulative effect has affected thousands of homeowners across the country.  Now with the BP oil spill, the region’s economy, homeowners, and residents are suffering.

The Chinese drywall crisis – while stemming from the Hurricane season of 2004 and 2005 (and primarily causing a drywall shortage from the massive Hurricane Katrina) – has affected homeowners across the country.  Florida has also been a state where much concern has been raised about toxic drywall from China, and recently a Miami-Dade Circuit Judge approved class-action status for a case brought by a couple who purchased their home in 2008.

The first class action lawsuit regarding Chinese drywall is reported by the Miami Herald (click here for source article), to include up to 152 families, from three (3) Homestead neighborhoods.  The class-action status decision.

Class-action status is significant legally, in that plaintiffs (those who suffered harm) can benefit by being considered a “class” or a group rather than having to file a lawsuit for each home affected.  This “class-action” status obviously alleviates administrative burdens on the court system as well.

Homeowners will receive a notice in the mail, pursuant to the rules of the court system, regarding whether they would like to join the suit.

Still other communities exist across the country where neighborhoods may deserve class-action status.  How those situations play out, and how the judges will rule in those scenarios, will be reported on as soon as developments are available.