A couple is suing the Chinese maker and importer of an allegedly toxic and corrosive drywall that was used to remodel their first floor after Hurricane Katrina.
Richard and Donna Gardner filed a lawsuit July 10 in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana against Knauf GIPS KG and Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co.
According to the complaint, the Gardners entered into a contract to sell their home at 30 Nassau Drive, Metairie, for $2.375 million on March 27 but the contract was canceled due to the discovery during an inspection of Knauf Chinese-manufactured drywall.
The suit says "in 'defective drywall' [such as that designed, manufactured and exported by Knauf], the gypsum and other components of the product break down and release sulfides and other noxious gases that are then emitted from the drywall."
These gases cause corrosion and property damage, the lawsuit states, as well as "eye irritation, sore throat and cough, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs and/or neurological harm," the lawsuit states.
The suit says the Gardners suffered these physical problems and property damages.
The Gardners seek unspecified compensatory damages, injunctive relief, pre- and post-judgment interest, taxable costs, and attorney fees. They are represented attorneys Bruce S. Kingsdorf and Zachary L. Wool of Barrios, Kingsdorf & Casteix in New Orleans, and Michael J. Ryan of Krupnick, Campbell, Malone, Buser, Slama, Hancock and Liberman in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-02529-EEF-JCW.