Personal Injury Law

2.4 million Awarded in first Chinese drywall lawsuit

Many of us here in Tennessee and across the country may have read reports or seen the news about foul smelling Chinese drywall and the problems it can cause for many homeowners and people across the country and right here to the residents of Tennessee. However, this is the first trial about the drywall reports.

Armin and Lisa Seifart, a Florida couple left their dream home because of the foul smelling Chinese drywall and was awarded 2.4 million in damages in the nation?s first trial over the defective drywall that will come up in many lawsuits in the future. The jury felt that the couple deserved more than just compensation for gutting and renovation and awarded damages for the loss of enjoyment of their 1.6 million home and damages for the loss of resale value caused by the drywall stigma. This case is only the beginning of what some people may be able to seek in Chinese drywall damages.

The Seifarts were not told of the drywall problem when they moved in, in March of 2008. They accuse the Banner Supply Company, of concealing knowledge it had as early as 2006 of the drywall problems including recommendations from the manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjian that they think the wallboards should not be used.

Banner?s attorney Todd Ehrenreich only acknowledged some of the blame and only wanted to pay the couple direct expenses, arguing that the ?hidden and undetectable? and that the problem may not become clear until years later. The jury held Banner fifty-five percent responsible and felt that and that Knauf and two related entities were responsible for the rest.

This case follows one in Louisiana where a federal judge awarded 2.6 million in damages to seven families in Virginia for bad Chinese drywall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recommended removing any bad drywall, affected wiring, fire alarm systems, and gas pipes.

Full post as published by Tennessee Law Blog on June 22, 2010 (boomark / email).