So far in the Chinese drywall saga, nobody has admitted liability. Let’s be honest, in a raft of lawsuits with an estimated total of billions of dollars, who is?
The only pure victims are the homeowners. They are being left high and dry as their homes deteriorate around them. It isn’t just the property or its value either. There is health to think about too. Many homeowners are claiming to be suffering from health issues as a result of the fumes being given off. While this has yet to be scientifically confirmed, subjective and anecdotal evidence certainly points to a connection between the drywall and health issues.
That isn’t to say the construction companies are sitting pretty though. Many of them have found they have inadvertently installed this material into properties they worked on during the period. For some, that is a LOT of properties. The material was imported during the property boom, and during that time there were several hurricanes, including Katrina, which increased demands on construction and materials. Many Chinese Drywall Repair companies have sprung up to try and make a fast buck off this problem.
The Chinese drywall was seen by the suppliers as a quick way to alleviate the problem and keep the process moving. It is estimated that over five hundred million pounds of Chinese drywall was imported between 2004 and 2007 and that it found its way into over one hundred thousand homes and properties.
It isn’t just residential homes though, the material was used in mid and high rises as well as commercial property. While most of the headlines have understandably revolved around homeowners and taken the human interest angle, there are also businesses and livelihoods at stake. Not only are the construction firms at risk, but any commercial properties with Chinese drywall are also. Not only can firms not compel employees to work in the buildings because of health and safety concerns, but in the worst situations the building may become uninhabitable.
The buildings, whether residential or commercial are suffering damage as a result of this situation. Any made of copper and metal is at risk of corrosion, air conditioning breaks down, any machinery or appliances with copper are corroding and the buildings wiring is also breaking down very quickly.
If the home or business owner files a suit, they can’t repair the property because they would be destroying evidence, and can’t use it if the problem is bad enough. Not everyone has the capital needed to move somewhere else while the situation is addressed. There aren’t too many alternatives in these situations.
The gas given off by the drywall is harmful to health but has yet to be scientifically proven to do so. Symptoms include headaches, eye irritation, shortness of breath, and many other symptoms.
For the most part, this situation is unfortunately in the hands of the lawyers. The class action sees light in September 2010, and the thousands of individual suits will join the queue in their local courts. While the financial costs are being thrashed out in the full glare of society, the emotional cost will be borne alone by the people involved.
