First Toxic Drywall Cases Filed

New Orleans - A Houston, Texas law firm filed toxic drywall cases Wednesday, June 17, for 14 families from four different states in the Federal Court established in New Orleans earlier in the week.

Petitions from Matthews & Associates Law Firm claim the families have been victimized by toxic drywall imported from China. The toxic drywall is alleged to not only corrode refrigeration coils and other copper elements, but to also trigger the emission of sulfuric gases believed to cause a wide array of health problems. The Multi-District-Litigation court, presided over by Judge Eldon Fallon, was established in New Orleans Monday to consolidate the country’s numerous drywall cases. Shipping records indicate at least 550,000 tons of toxic Chinese drywall were imported into the US during the housing boom of 2003-2007.

"Although New Orleans has been hit hard with her share of natural disasters, there is nothing natural about this Chinese drywall disaster," said Houston Attorney David Matthews, whose firm filed cases for residents of Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. As many as 50,000 households in the US may be affected by the toxic drywall, with many of those homes located in Louisiana in and around New Orleans.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys seek compensation for victims of the defective drywall that may cause a complete loss in home value. Toxicity studies show many affected homes may need to be stripped to the concrete slab. "We don't yet know the exact mechanism of how this drywall damages houses and people," said Matthews. "We won’t be able to perform proper discovery of how it causes the destruction of wiring, electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures until we sue the manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and construction companies that used it."