For recent updates on the pretrial motions involving the Chinese drywall issues, readers can bookmark this site and the court’s updating feed regarding the matter, located here.
Updated regularly, the site features news on motions and issues the court has handled, such as the following
August 20, 2009
Thursday marked the monthly joint report filed by Plaintiff and Defendant in the MDL pre-trial taking place in New Orleans. While little monumental news emerged from the court hearing, various items of note came through that individuals with Chinese drywall, or perhaps just curious readers, may be interested in.
Just this week, Florida Lieutenant Governor filed suit against those responsible for putting Chinese drywall into his home. The warning signs for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp appear to all be the same that homeowners nationwide have experienced.
The South Florida Business Journal reports
Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has joined hundreds of other Floridians in filing suit over defective Chinese drywall in his home.
Recent news from the Wall Street Journal shows the financial report side of Chinese drywall and how insiders have become experts on Chinese drywall in the pursuit of fully understanding the outcomes looming for those unfortunate enough to have used the faulty wallboard. Per the WSJ,
When Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. reports fiscal third-quarter results on Wednesday afternoon, industry watchers will learn the usual details about contracts, cancellations and revenue. But they also want to hear about drywall.
Builders have been disclosing their exposure to allegedly defective drywall — also known as wallboard — imported from China during the housing boom. A growing number of homeowners complain that it generates sulfurous odors and corrosion. These complaints have led to continuing investigations by several government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, and some of their results are expected next month.
Per the Examiner, storms may finally reach the Gulf Coast.
A new system taking shape has a fairly high chance of becoming a depression, and possibly tropical storm, on either September 1 or 2, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is located east of Puerto Rico near the Lesser Antilles.
The good news is this: the persistent trough over the east will likely steer this tropical cyclone away from the U.S. coast just as we saw with “Bill” and “Danny”. The system has a very low chance of affecting Texas based on expected steering winds.
A little bit of ‘News in Short’
Miami Herald: more tax benefits for Chinese drywall victims
Scientific tests have shown that toxic China-made drywall installed in homes beginning in 2001 emits harmful gases that corrode copper wiring and other parts of people’s homes. In addition, these gases harm people’s health, making many homes uninhabitable. Homeowners must not be left to shoulder this burden alone…
One of our clients recently had their home inspected for Chinese drywall and the report was completed this week. For those wondering what a report details, it includes
Coming out of bankruptcy court, WCI’s plan for restructuring and settling debt has been approved.
A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved a plan of reorganization for luxury home builder WCI Communities Inc (WCIMQ.PK), according to court documents, helping clear the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The relevancy of this to homeowners in the Gulf Coast is plain:
Coming out of the news last week are reports that the special fund set aside by Louisiana legislatures may be incredibly inadequate and more money may be necessary.
A Louisiana fund set up to help the victims of defective Chinese drywall may not be adequate, according to a report in The Advocate. Considering the number of affected homes in the state, the $5 million recently set aside by the Louisiana legislature won’t be enough to repair every home with Chinese drywall.
Consumers in 24 states have filed a total of 1046 Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Gases emitted from the 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, similar to fireworks or rotten eggs, that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode.
The Wall Street Journal reports that companies in the Gulf and outside of it are not seeking insurance for catastrophe this hurricane season. Citing “improved technology and increased regulations” as rationale for avoiding the provisions, these companies still stand at some peril as hurricane season escalates. The article notes
Many energy companies are facing the late-blooming Gulf Coast hurricane season without insurance against storm damage to their offshore platforms, pipelines and drilling rigs.
Although the annual storm season has been mild so far, the first hurricane, Bill, brewed up in the Atlantic last weekend, and federal forecasters are predicting three to six hurricanes this year, one or two of which will probably qualify as major.
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