Chinese Drywall Verdict Could Pave Way for More Relief

Homeowners grappling with Chinese drywall won big last week. Not only did the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and HUD call for the removal of Chinese drywall, but a federal judge in Louisiana ordered the Chinese firm Taishan Gypsum Co. to pay seven Virginia families a total of about $2.6 million dollars in damages so they can tear out the drywall as well as corroded household wiring and plumbing.

The verdict could pave the way for thousands of homeowners across the country to receive compensation for the drywall, which emits fumes and corrodes plumbing and wire.

Getting a foreign company to pay can be a challenge, but Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) pledged that "we're going to continue to push our government to insist to the Chinese government that they make these poor home owners whole." Sen. Nelson's spokesman pointed out that the drywall companies involved are either wholly-owned or partially-owned by the Chinese government.