The Chinese Drywall Litigation (In Re: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, Multi-District Litigation 2047) centers around drywall manufactured in China which emits excess levels of sulfur compounds which corrode metal (predominantly silver and copper based) components within a home or other enclosed structure.
Chinese Drywall was imported into the United States during the housing bubble of the mid-2000's and was installed mainly in the Southeast, an area of the United States which at the time was recovering from several hurricane landfalls in Florida, Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast. The demand for drywall was higher than normal due to the rise in new construction and also from the large amount of home renovations taking place in the wake of many devastating hurricanes which hit the Gulf Coast in 2004 and 2005. Because domestic manufacturers could not match the increased demand for drywall, importers and distributors looked to Chinese manufacturers to fill their orders. Consequently, thousands of homes were constructed using Chinese Drywall.
The lawsuits arising from Chinese Drywall were transferred to Judge Fallon of the United States Eastern District of Louisiana, located in New Orleans. Judge Fallon selected a Plaintiffs Steering Committee to lead the litigation against the responsible parties. Hugh Lambert of Lambert & Nelson, PLC was selected to the committee and is currently co-chair to the Experts Sub-Committee and chairman of the Insurance Sub-Committee. Additionally, Hugh Lambert was trial counsel in the Campbell and Clement cases, which were the first two cases settled amicably between property owners and a Chinese Drywall manufacturer.
In the wake of the Campbell and Clement settlements, one of the Chinese Drywall manufacturers has begun a "pilot program" to effectively remediate several hundred homes in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Contribution from insurers of installers, builders, distributors, importers and others is essential to the expansion of the "pilot program" to the remaining thousands of homeowner’s and property owners with Chinese Drywall. That is why Lambert & Nelson, PLC continues to fight for insurance coverage in both its own State Court cases as well as leading the charge in Federal Court on behalf of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee. Lambert & Nelson, PLC has been instrumental in obtaining several important rulings against insurance companies which greatly increase the chances of resolving Chinese Drywall cases for both our clients and the entire MDL.
If you believe you may have Chinese Drywall, Lambert & Nelson, PLC will have your home inspected at no cost to you. Please call us or fill out a potential claim form under the "Contact" tab above for "Chinese Drywall."
If you would simply like more information regarding Chinese Drywall and its effects, please feel free to call us or explore the informative links below:
http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html
http://www.chinesedrywall.com/
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