UPDATE: Chinese Drywall Being Tested By Florida Health Department; Class Action lawsuits filed/being filed

The Florida Health Department has begun running tests on the defective Chinese drywall that has ruined many new homes in the state.

Lennar admitted that the gases the test found could be responsible for the corrosion problems in many of the homes. But the company has maintained that the tests showed the levels of fumes were below what would be considered a health hazard. However, many people have voiced doubts over that claim.

Last week, Michael Foreman, head of Sarasota construction consulting firm Foreman & Associates, told HeraldTribune.com that he is disturbed by reports that residents in homes built with the defective drywall are experiencing respiratory discomfort and other problems.

“If that’s the case, then why is everybody getting sick?” Foreman said. “Why do they all have the same problems? If it’s caustic enough to eat up the components in the house, then I can only imagine it must have some effect on your body.”

Full Article: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4656
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MORE:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/02/prweb1946664.htm (full article)

Because of consumer horror stories, Americas Watchdog's Homeowners Consumer Center is expanding its Florida investigation of possibly toxic Chinese imported Chinese dry wall, used in Florida, into a national investigation of all new homes built in 2005 and 2006, that may also have the imported Chinese dry wall. The group wants to hear from any homeowner in Florida, or in any US state, who has, or suspects they have the imported Chinese dry wall product in their home. ...
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http://news-press.com/article/20090202/NEWS0102/90202036 (full article)

Class-action Chinese drywall lawsuit filed

The Bonita Springs law firm Parker Waichman and Alonso LLP is the first to enter the legal arena with a class action lawsuit seeking damages from the makers/exporters/suppliers of Chinese drywall.

The lawsuit was filed late Friday on behalf of Shane M. Allen and Nicole J. Allen of North Fort Myers “and all other similarly situated owners of homes in the State of Florida that were built using drywall manufactured, processed, distributed, delivered, supplied, inspected and/or sold by defendants.”

The defendants are:

• Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., Ltd., the company that has been most linked to the suspect drywall.

• The Knauf Group, an international company based in Germany with more than 150 facilities and subsidiaries all over the word, including Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin.

• Rothchilt International Limited and/or Banner Supply Co. ...

Parker Waichman Alonso LLP is only one of several law firms that have been soliciting plaintiffs for a class action lawsuit in the past few weeks.

The home page of their Web site, www.defective-chinese-drywall-lawsuit.com, starts off asking “Is your new Florida home filled with the odor of rotten eggs?” and urges those who suspect they have problems with the drywall to call the firm for a free consultation.

Another firm looking to jump on the class action bandwagon is Friedin & Dobrinsky, P.A., based in Miami but with an office in Fort Myers.

The firm ran an advertisements Jan. 14 in The News Press stating: “If you or someone you know has experienced noxious odors, air conditioning failures and/or health problems that you believe are related to drywall imported from China, let our attorneys investigate the case.”

In addition, a Web site that popped up about two weeks ago called www.chinesedrywall.com offers information from various media sources about the drywall and offered two Web sites for auction: www.Chinesedrywallclassaction.com and www.Chinesedrywallinspector.com