Parker Waichman LLP

Construction Consultant Agrees: Chinese Drywall Defective

Complaints from homeowners over defective Chinese Drywall continue and now a class-action suit has been filed in Sarasota County in Florida, the Bradenton Herald has reported, noting that complaints registered with the Florida Health Department have grown from 30 to 54 and include homes from all over the state. Hundreds of homeowners have been plagued […]

Complaints from homeowners over defective Chinese Drywall continue and now a class-action suit has been filed in Sarasota County in Florida, the Bradenton Herald has reported, noting that complaints registered with the Florida Health Department have grown from 30 to 54 and include homes from all over the state.

Hundreds of homeowners have been plagued by odious smells and ongoing wiring, pipe, and air conditioning problems due to defective Chinese Drywall.  Worse, consumers are complaining about health problems that seem to lift when they are away from the toxic Chinese Drywall.  Health concerns include an array of respiratory problems, nosebleeds, irritated eyes, and headaches.  Of very serious concern, is the possibility that the Chinese Drywall is emitting excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide fumes, which can cause extreme irritation, unconsciousness, and even death.

Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China is a manufacturer implicated in this fiasco. Knauf maintains that its defective Chinese Drywall is safe and homeowner damage must be from some other source.  But, now, the Bradenton Herald has reported that Michael Foreman, a construction consultant for Sarasota’s Foreman & Associates, Inc., said the Knauf plasterboard is defective.  Foreman also said that a sample he reviewed was found to contain a marking for an outdated standard:  “ASTM C36.”  The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an international standards organization that develops standards for products and materials, said the Bradenton Herald, which explained that the C36 standard was replaced over four years ago with “ASTM C1396.”  The Bradenton Herald also noted a piece of very interesting information:  The C36 drywall was produced in March 2006, two years after that standard was changed.

It seems the problem started because of a shortage of U.S.-made drywall.  Builders began using imports from China that likely were kept at sea for months pending approval to enter the U.S.  Some believe the continuous humidity is, in part, responsible for the fumes.  One official with a large building supply company recently told a Florida newspaper that more than 10-million square feet of the Chinese drywall was imported to southwest Florida during Florida’s construction boom of 2004-2005.

Meanwhile, Foreman told the Bradenton Herald that not all Chinese Drywall is problematic, “There are several manufacturers of the Chinese drywall. Not all are bad.”  Foreman also found that some American drywall may pose problems because some parts were manufactured in China.  Also, the Bradenton Herald reported that the Gypsum Association confirmed that China imported about 300 million square feet of gypsum board into the U.S. from 2006-2007; during that period, nearly 68 billion square feet was used in this country and about 65 billion square feet produced domestically.  Foreman that while not all imported drywall from this period was made by Knauf, a significant amount was. “In my opinion, there are few, if any builders, that won’t be affected by this,” Foreman told the Bradenton Herald.

Problems with the defective Chinese Drywall have been reported in homes developed by Lennar Homes and Taylor Morrison.  The class-action lawsuit has been filed against one of the builders, Taylor Morrison, for monetary damages for “severe structural damage to the homes, electrical wiring, plumbing, metal components, and personal property,” reported the Bradenton Herald.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Responsiveness What I appreciated best was Benita Rollis's follow up for me on my issue and taking ownership of my case
William Hirsch
2 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I signed with Parker Waichman LLP in December of 2018. In 2019 I started working with Christina (Tina) Morace. In my 44 years of working in the Financial Services Industry in NYC, I had never met such a competent and professional legal assistant. Since the beginning she has continually demonstrated exceptional client service skills. She has taken both my wife and myself by the hand and provided us with guidance and reassurance each step of our process. Tina you have been a Godsend. Rodriguez Family
Ismael Rodriguez
a month ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I had awesome experience with them. Nice and straight forward process. I want to thank Parker & Waichman for and excellent job.
Vic
6 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038