Caldwell
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Multiple Knauf entities and other international and domestic manufacturers, distributors, importers of Chinese drywall and several builders have been hit with a lawsuit by Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell over allegations of defective and toxic drywall.
Caldwell's suit alleges that the State of Louisiana has and will continue to suffer economic loss as a result of the manufacture, distribution, sale and/or installation of the drywall. More than 1.1 million sheets of that drywall were imported through the Port of New Orleans by the defendants and used in the construction, repair or rebuilding of homes and buildings after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since 2005, new construction also utilized the allegedly toxic drywall.
Various health problems have been attributed to the off-gassing by the defendants' drywall of various harmful chemicals, Caldwell claims.
The drywall's alleged corrosive effects on wiring and household appliances also creates potential fire hazards.
The suit seeks to recover damages suffered or that will be suffered on behalf of the State and its political subdivisions as a result of the drywall. The State, the suit alleges, has suffered the loss of expected state income tax, sales tax, property tax and other revenues as a result of the negative impact of the drywall.
The suit also seeks costs related to the remediation and disposal of all contaminated drywall and by-products as well as other damages.