CHINESE DRYWALL

The aftermath of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in our nation’s history not only left thousands destitute and homeless, today, many are facing yet another disaster, albeit manmade. Thousands fled their homes in fear of Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes along the Gulf of Mexico, then returned to their hometowns to rebuild. Unfortunately for many of those, disaster struck again.

Due to the fact that our country was experiencing a nationwide construction boom and the reconstruction following Hurricane Katrina and other devastating hurricanes along the Gulf of Mexico, a huge shortage of drywall was created in the United States. Drywall, also referred to as “sheetrock,” is made from gypsum, which naturally contains sulfur compounds. Suppliers turned to Germany and China, who provided cheap and readily available drywall. The drywall was exposed to the humidity at sea while the drywall was being transported from China, the exposed to further humidity upon its arrival in the Southeast, resulting in a destructive chemical reaction that is damaging to health and property. It has been reported that as much as 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall has entered the United States, affecting as many as 100,000 homes.

Reports related to the defective drywall began to surface as early as December 2003. Homeowners throughout the Southeastern United States began to complain of foul odors in their homes, associating the smell with “rotten eggs,” and noticed corrosion in pipes, wiring and problems with heating and cooling systems. Along with the property damage, many were stricken with health problems such as headaches, nosebleeds, respiratory infections and symptoms similar to bronchitis, asthma or other allergies. Homeowners are rightfully concerned this will affect the value of their homes and the ability to resale their homes. Homeowners and commercial business have spent substantial sums of money in attempts to repair the damage, not realizing the cause, or the potential health risks. In fact, many property owners with the defective sheetrock may not have experienced any odor or health problems, but may in the future.

K. Edward Sexton, II and the law firm of Gentle, Turner & Sexton is actively litigating claims against various drywall companies in order to protect the rights of citizens (or those most affected). Mr. Sexton represents clients in class action lawsuits filed in Alabama and Mississippi. These cases will be consolidated with other cases in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is commonly referred to as “MDL” or Multi-district Litigation. Judge Eldon E. Fallon, a United States District Court Judge, has been appointed to handle the pending lawsuits due to his experience in handling cases of this magnitude.

If you had drywall or sheetrock work performed between 2003 and 2008, either new construction or remodeling, you may be at risk. If you have been experiencing health or other drywall related problems or believe that you may have Chinese drywall in your home, we would welcome the opportunity to assist you. Our firm is committed to holding the responsible parties accountable. You may fill out our online form or call K. Edward Sexton, II. We will have your home inspected to determine if Chinese drywall exists in your home or business. Additionally, if you would like other general information regarding Chinese drywall, feel free to contact us.




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