Chinese Drywall

Between approximately 2004 and 2007 defective drywall was imported to the United States from China. Since 2006 more than 550 million pounds of Chinese manufactured drywall have been imported into the United States through ports in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York and New Jersey.   According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission homeowners in 18 states and the District of Columbia have reported their experience with negative health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes which are believed to be related to the presence of drywall produced in China.  The states most effected with defective Chinese drywall are Florida, Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Stark & Stark’s Construction Litigation group is currently investigating homeowner claims and is working with a nationwide group of law firms representing homeowners in claims against the manufacturers, suppliers and installers of the defective Chinese drywall.

If you believe your home was constructed with Chinese drywall and would like to have your case reviewed by an experienced attorney free of charge, please fill out the contact form below.

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How Can I Tell If Defective Drywall Has Been Used in My Home?
Consumers typically describe a "rotten egg" smell within their house and or the corrosion or blackening of certain metal items. Consumers have also reported frequent failures of copper piping in air conditioning units.

What are the health symptoms and risks?
The most frequently reported symptoms are irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and asthma attacks. Since many consumers report that their symptoms lessen or go away when they are away from their home, but return upon re-entry, it appears that these symptoms are short-term and related to something within the home.

What Should I Do If I Believe My Home Has Defective Drywall?
Of the utmost importance is the health and safety of you and your family. If you are suffering from the health symptoms described as common to exposure to problem drywall, please consult your physician as soon as possible.

If you experience any of the electrical or fire safety concerns described as common to the reports of exposure to problem drywall, please consult your local gas or electric supplier and a licensed electrician or building inspector as soon as possible.

You should contact your State and local authorities to report your concerns and get direction on any help or resources in your area.

What are the electrical or fire safety concerns and what I should I watch for in my house?
Consumers have reported blackened and corroded metal in their homes. Particularly, consumers have reported failures of certain components such as: (1) premature failures of central air conditioning evaporator coils located indoors as part of the central air conditioning unit air handler; and (2) intermittent operation or failure of appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, and electronic devices such as televisions and video game systems.

You should generally watch for the following potential electrical hazards in your home:
  • Power outages - a circuit breaker which needs resetting frequently without any apparent cause; especially if a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) trips frequently. Arc-fault circuit interrupters are a special kind of circuit breaker that is designed to detect arcing conditions in the electrical wiring.
  • Dim/flickering lights - lights dim often without any specific cause, such as the air conditioner or the refrigerator turning on.
  • Arcs/sparks - bright flashes or showers of sparks anywhere in your electrical system.
  • Sizzles/buzzes - unusual sounds from electrical system devices.
  • Overheating - parts of your electrical system, such as switch plates, dimmer switches, receptacle outlet covers, cords and plugs may be warm as a normal consequence of their operation but should not be discolored from heat or painful to touch.
  • Odors - pungent smells such as strong fumes from overheating plastic or electrical insulation materials.
  • Electrical shocks - any shock, even a mild tingle. Multiple symptoms would be a stronger indication of problems.