Recently, Lennar Corp. reported that it has identified 400 homes that it constructed in Florida that contain defective Chinese drywall. This is troubling news for the homes' residents, who may be suffering from the effects caused by this defective product.
According to some experts, almost 300,000 US homes may contain the defective drywall. The material was brought over from China between 2004 and 2007 when there was a shortage of domestic wallboard and thousands of homes had to be rebuilt following a number of hurricanes. Lennar says there may be more homes in Florida it has yet to identify that contain the defective dry wall.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission's recent status report to lawmakers states that it has received 608 incident reports involving defective Chinese drywall from people in 21 states and in Washington DC. The CPSC says at least 5,503,694 Chinese drywall sheets were imported to the US. Already, a number of homeowners in the US have filed products liability lawsuits over the defective chinese drywall.
Defective Chinese Drywall
The drywall is made of gypsum and is coated with paper. It is found in the walls and the ceilings of many homes.
There are concerns that the defective drywall was made in gypsum mines where fly ash was used. The drywall may contain high levels of sulfur, which can corrode the piping, damage the wiring in the home, lead to appliance and electronic failure, and cause health issues.
There is evidence to indicate that exposure to the defective drywall for extended periods of time can cause health issues. The material may contain poisonous compounds that can affect bone growth in children and impact the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the liver, the skin, the eyes, and the kidneys. Infants, the elderly, sick people, and kids are highly vulnerable to the effects of defective Chinese dry wall.
One Florida resident says the drywall is causing her to have skin problems, experience nosebleeds, and suffer from insomnia. In North Carolina, one family sued the builder of their home because they say that the defective Chinese drywall in their walls not only damaged their home and personal property but also made them sick.
Lennar: 400 homes have Chinese drywall, Business Journal, July 13, 2009
CPSC Says Drywall In 21 States, Details Testing Programs, NewsInferno.com, July 14, 2009
Related Web Resources:
CPSC Drywall Status Report (PDF)
If your home was damaged or you or someone you love got sick because a construction company installed defective Chinese dry wall in your home, contact Gilbert & Ollanik, PC today for your free case evaluation with one of our experienced products liability lawyers.
