Drywall Doubts
Although alleged problems with drywall made in China have promoted what could become a class action lawsuit involving tens of thousands of cases, Mississippi officials haven't received any reports of problems related to the products yet.
But Miami-based attorney Ervin Gonzalez says he has received reports that the faulty drywall did make it into Mississippi, although he said that hasn't been verified yet, but that the bulk of it was sent to Florida, Gonzalez said cases in Louisiana also have been verified.
Gonzalez's firm is handling a class action suit against the companies and subsidiaries responsible for sending out the drywall and he said if the case is certified, it could include as many as 30,000 homeowners, mostly in Florida, according to his calculations. So far none from Mississippi have entered the suit, he said.
In Florida, some have complained of respiratory problems, electronic devices inexplicably breaking down and a strong odors in their homes that smell like rotting eggs, which is due to the release of sulfur. Gonzalez said the sulfur smell is usually present, along with black deposits in bare copper wires, black deposits on the HVAC copper, changes to finishes on mirrors, pitting of chrome and other objects, was well as light switches that pop or have visible discharge.
Gonzalez said that the drywall in question was likely bought in bulk in most cases by developers. He said the issues reported have been associated with homes that were built between late 2005 and early 2007 during the post-Katrina building boom and that it is unknown whether the product is still being circulated.
The company most identified with the issues, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., Ltd., maintains that it is one of the few companies that actually labeled its products according to law, but that other drywall brands were being imported from China.
"Other than KPT, it appears that most Chinese manufactures of plasterboard did not brand their plasterboard," a company statement said. "Only about 20 percent of the plasterboard imported from China over the 16 months, mostly in 2006, that Chinese plasterboard was imported was manufactured by KPT. This includes significant stocks of other manufactures' plasterboard imported into Mimi, Tampa and other Florida ports."
But Gonzalez said that based on what he has seen so far, of homes where the problems were reported, Knauf drywall has been present most often, by what he says is an overwhelming margin.
Gonzalez said Florida residents are complaining of respiratory problems, burning or itchy eyes, sore throats, headaches and other related problems, but that the health effects of the drywall are still unknown. The company has said that the drywall does not cause any health problems to persons in the homes.
A recent test commissioned by the Florida Department of Health says that the Chinese materials do contain more strontium sulfide and more organic materials than samples made in the United States. But it also said that further tests would be needed to determine what, if any, particular health hazards are present.
A company spokesperson said she doesn't believe that the company sent any of the drywall in question into Mississippi, but acknowledges that it would be impossible to know for sure that none made it here. So far, agencies like the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said they received no reports of any problems related to the drywall in Mississippi.
But Biloxi Community Development Director Jerry Creel said he had a meeting with his staff about the Chinese drywall Tuesday and two of his inspectors said they have seen the drywall in structures here, but he didn't immediately have any specific details about those buildings late Tuesday. Biloxi Home Depot Store manager Scott Corry said that Home Depot does not stock any drywall made outside the United States, but calls to several other larger suppliers were not returned by press time. Gonzalez said that most of the drywall was sold in bulk to developers. Representatives of two local Habitat for Humanity chapters also said they didn't use any drywall imported from China in their homes, which were part of the post-Katrina housing blitz.
John Sullivan, executive secretary for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, said that the group investigates complaints against contractors and none related to the drywall have surfaced yet.
But he does believe they will come once the news reaches more people. "We are bracing for it," Sullivan said.
Lumpkin and Reeves are reviewing these potential cases. If you or someone you know thinks they may have the Chinese Drywall in their home please contact us at 1-877-377-5752 to discuss your rights with an Attorney.
