Insurance Dispute Lawyer Blog
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
Brief report relating to Chinese drywall inspection
News in short: WCI bankruptcy plan approved
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:
Chinese drywall fund in Louisiana not enough?
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.
Energy firms not seeking insurance against disasters
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.
Chinese drywall in Las Vegas?
A recent news piece reveals that Chinese drywall may have gotten as far as Las Vegas when it was imported and installed into new homes nationwide. Homeowners have cited the now standard signs of it having been used for the development of their dwellings and inspectors have begun investigating
A Chinese drywall class action lawsuit has been filed in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the lawsuit alleges that Chinese drywall is causing health problems for occupants of homes in two Las Vegas neighborhoods
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four homeowners, the Sun said. Three of the homes are located in a neighborhood near Jones Boulevard and Grand Teton Drive; and the fourth is near Hollywood Boulevard and Desert Inn Road. The lawsuit, which seeks class action status for all residents of the state suffering health problems because of Chinese drywall, names subsidiaries of Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp. and drywall manufacturer Georgia-Pacific Corp. of Atlanta as defendants.
Weather radios a safe buy while hurricane season is afoot
Just a helpful reminder that buying a weather radio may be a good idea before it is a necessity. Various sites around the internet are selling them, as are businesses in areas around the Gulf Coast, and some decent deals might be something to jump on. One site, for instance, is selling a model for 50% off, only $18 + shipping. The model includes features such as
Receives all 7 NOAA Weather/Hazard Channels
Telescopic Antenna
Consider trip insurance this hurricane season
Virginia’s WSLS recently did a piece on traveling and the use of travelers insurance that is very relevant to anyone across the United States who may be visiting or doing business in regions such as the Gulf Coast. When visiting areas like Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas, travelers may want to consider the slightly extra fees to guarantee their trip is financially supported in the event hurricane season flips on it.
Bradford tells WSLS travelers can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to hundreds of thousands of dollars for trip insurance, but she says it pays for itself if they have to use it.
“If it’s a situation where you’ve paid $4,000 for a trip and it gets cancelled because of a hurricane and you didn’t take out any insurance, you’re in bind,“ said Bradford.
The tax debacle Chinese drywall creates
While many members of the state and federal government have been discussing tax rebates for those who have Chinese drywall in their homes, it is not an open and shut situation for those wishing to make claims. Instead, it can be a long and tedious uphill battle with mixed results. WPBF of Florida recently featured a couple facing this challenge
Larry Kosakowski and his fiancée, Kelly Wonderlick, can fill their living room table with their Chinese drywall battle. They’ve already found that the imported wall boards corroded electrical wiring and ate up appliances. The telltale Knauf stamp can be seen all over the attic.
“The value of the property is important to us,” said Kosakowski. “It’s your biggest investment.”
Hurricane Bill likely to miss
The good news for the United States is, other than a bit of rain and higher waves, Hurricane Bill will likely miss and not make landfall.
This article, from Canada’s CBCNews, details the storm’s projected path
Hurricane Bill will likely blow into Atlantic Canada’s waters on Sunday as a Category 2 storm, bringing 150 kilometre an hour winds and heavy rain, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Friday afternoon.
Chinese drywall not radioactive
Tests have confirmed that while the faulty Chinese wallboard may be toxic and harmful to the health of those people whose homes are lined with the stuff, Chinese drywall is not radioactive. As a precaution, the government carried out tests to insure that the material is not even more dangerous than it already is and the tests came back negative.
The Herald Tribune reports
Tainted Chinese drywall is known to smell and corrode metal, and is suspected of making people sick. But state and federal investigators have determined one thing the wallboard is not: radioactive.