NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana couple is suing several Chinese manufacturers of drywall, alleging that the product is unfit for use in homes because it contains damaging sulfur compounds.
Stephen and Diane Brooke filed a class-action lawsuit Nov. 23 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against The State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; Taishan Gypsum Co. LTD, formerly known as Shandong Taihe Dongxin Co. LTD; Tai’an Taishan Plasterboard Co. LTD; Beijing New Building Materials Public Limited Co.; China National Building Material Co. LTD; Beijing New Building Materials (Group) Co. LTD; and China National Building Materials Group Corp., alleging negligence, unjust enrichment, strict liability, breach of express and/or implied warranties, redhibition, violation of the Louisiana Products Liability Act and other counts.
According to the complaint, the gypsum-based drywall sold by the defendants contains sulfur compounds that cause rapid sulfidation and damage throughout the home, such as air conditioning and refrigerator coils, faucets, wiring, appliances and other metal surfaces.
The plaintiffs seek compensatory, punitive and statutory damages as allowed by law, as well as reimbursement for litigation costs. They are represented by attorneys Ervin A. Gonzalez of the firm Colson, Hicks, Eidson, Colson, Matthews, Martinez, Gonzales, Kalbac & Cane of Coral Gables, Fla., and by Arnold Levin, Fred S. Longer and Matthew C. Gaughan of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman of Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Case number 2:15-cv-06631