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Developments in Washington occurred this past week in the pursuit of having the government conclusively investigate and define the harm caused by Chinese drywall. While local officials have been pledging consistently to improve the matter, officials from the Gulf Coast brought before the Consumer Product Safety Commission a push for more to be done and a federal investigation to be carried out. Such an investigation would clear the way for relief money and possibly improve legal matters contingent on this matter.

Lesley Clark of the Miami Herald reports

Lawmakers from Florida and Louisiana Thursday pressed new Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman Inez Tenenbaum for answers to the Chinese drywall problem plaguing thousands of homeowners in their states.

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While much of the nation has been spared any sort of adverse weather as a result of tropical storms or hurricanes, insuring one’s home is not the only way precaution may be taken by people, regardless on where they live. One helpful tip is to avoid any sort of delay or detriment to travel enjoyment by insuring your trip or vacation.

Article writer Michelle Higgins recounts various trips she has taken and the security insurance now provides. She writes

Several years passed before we returned to the Caribbean in hurricane season. In October 2007, my husband and I rented a house on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico. The three-bedroom home was perched on a hilltop, and its pool offered clear views of the bioluminescent bay and remote beaches. The October rate was a bargain, and other than a few afternoon showers, we escaped any foul weather.

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The Berniard Law Firm, having already been involved with various clients with Chinese drywall in the Gulf Coast region, recently filed in federal court two claims against manufacturers and builders who were involved in the repair and manufacturing of their homes. Further, head attorney Jeffrey Berniard has been involved in the class action proceedings with the MDL established in New Orleans. That pre-trial matter has been proceeding at a very rapid pace as Judge Eldon Fallon, quite experienced with class actions and was selected because of his work in a previous matter involving the prescription drug Vioxx. For more information on Judge Fallon’s work in the Vioxx matter and how he was chosen for his experience and expertise in the rapid development of class action pre-trial matters, read more here.

All of this involvement has led to a wealth of information that has been integral in establishing the advanced experience and approach the Berniard Law Firm has towards Chinese drywall. Mr. Berniard has been in attendance of each of the pre-trial hearings relating to the MDL Panel and has been active in helping advance the Plaintiff case in any way possible. To understand better the decisions made and the developments that come with these pre-trial hearings, refer back to our blog entry on this month’s MDL hearing located here.

While this blog is intended to be a resource for individuals living in the Gulf Coast and beyond to understand the legal matters and situations going on day-to-day, the fact that builders as far away as Nevada have been accused of using Chinese drywall demonstrates that everyone need to be aware of the news and options going on with Chinese drywall.

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For residents of the Gulf Coast, and Louisiana in particular, groups involved with Chinese drywall litigation and legislation have established and set up a Town Hall Meeting for next week to discuss with homeowners and citizens the developments and actions being taken to combat the problems associated with the faulty wallboard.

Set for next Monday at 6:30 in Mandeville, the meeting will be attended by attorneys, including the Berniard Law Firm’s own Jeffrey Berniard, and experts in the field and issue in order to hopefully assuage concerns and develop ideas and avenues of communication with the community. State Senator Julie Quinn will also be in attendance to field questions regarding the state’s response to the matter.

The full details are as follows:

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In pursuit of keeping readers abreast of storms as they develop, the new storm forming in the Atlantic may lead to this season’s next tropical storm with, hopefully, the same results as those previous this year. While it is currently projected to not even reach the coast, it will likely be followed by national meteorologists as it either strengthens or weakens. Storms often can change track so this blog will keep track as the storm progresses.

In the meantime, the AP reports

A new tropical depression has formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later on Monday or Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

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Florida officials are trying hard to find various ways in which homeowners with faulty imported wallboard can see results and aid while facing their difficult predicaments. The TC Palm recently noted an idea of some area Florida officials in an article posted several days ago:

Martin County Property Appraiser Laurel Kelly agreed having Chinese drywall “would definitely affect the value of property and your taxable value.”

Her department has heard from homeowners in five subdivisions, she said.

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For recent updates on the pretrial motions involving the Chinese drywall issues, readers can bookmark this site and the court’s updating feed regarding the matter, located here.

Updated regularly, the site features news on motions and issues the court has handled, such as the following

August 20, 2009

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Thursday marked the monthly joint report filed by Plaintiff and Defendant in the MDL pre-trial taking place in New Orleans. While little monumental news emerged from the court hearing, various items of note came through that individuals with Chinese drywall, or perhaps just curious readers, may be interested in.

  • Both parties have agreed to a systematic inspection of properties reported to have Chinese drywall in order to establish a system that may be carried through as the various trials in other jurisdictions is carried out. These property inspections, with plaintiffs handling and paying for initial round of inspections, will be quite helpful to the court and both parties in understanding fully the work that will be required and rules set in place. 30 properties will be chosen for these investigations, carried out by Crawford and Company. This group will carry out inspecting the homes, looking into all of the various known pitfalls of the faulty wallboard’s use closely and to determine if there the presence of Chinese manufactured drywall, the amount thereof, etc. Through these investigations, the inspectors hope to detect any odor, visual damage to collateral parts of properties, record samples and carry out the process of how much damage this product causes. Both counsels may observe.
  • Those 30 inspections will cover a wide expanse of the country, with cases from states including Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia. Seven cases will be in the state of Louisiana.
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    Just this week, Florida Lieutenant Governor filed suit against those responsible for putting Chinese drywall into his home. The warning signs for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp appear to all be the same that homeowners nationwide have experienced.

    The South Florida Business Journal reports

    Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has joined hundreds of other Floridians in filing suit over defective Chinese drywall in his home.

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