June 21, 2010

First Chinese Drywall Jury Verdict: $2.4M

by Tanya Roth
FindLaw

AIf you have been following the path of alleged damage and destruction caused by imported Chinese drywall on thousands of homes build across the Southeast and other areas of the country, you know that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued many advisories regarding the defective drywall. The CPSC has had its say, a judge in federal court in Louisiana, finding against the manufacturers of the drywall has had his say, now a jury in Florida has had its say.

According to the Associated Press, a jury has decided in favor of Florida homeowners Armin and Lisa Seifart who sued the drywall distributor Banner Supply Co. for hiding their knowledge of the defective drywall from them. The company fought in court to limit any damage award to the plaintiffs' actual costs incurred in completely rebuilding their home. However, the jury verdict awarded a total of $2.4 million in damages, an amount meant to also cover the loss of enjoyment of the Seifarts' $1.6 million house and for the stigma that might now reduce its resale value.

As has been discussed in previous posts on FindLaw's Common Law Blog, the drywall has been found to produce noxious fumes which are believed to contribute to the corrosion of metal and wiring in homes built with the defective drywall. Homeowners have complained of corrosion in everything from plumbing, to appliances, to wiring in alarm systems. Some homeowners have blamed health problems on the drywall as well.

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