The verdict, by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon — who is overseeing the massive combined Chinese drywall litigation in New Orleans – awards $164,000 plus attorneys’ fees and court costs to Mandeville, Louisiana family. The decision calls for their house to be largely gutted down to the studs – replacing all drywall, duct work, the entire electrical system, all copper and silver components, the HVAC system and all damaged appliances and consumer electronics.
As part of the judgment, Fallon ordered that Chinese manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd must pay the Hernandez family for about $5,400 for damaged personal property, as well as close to $20,000 for alternative living arrangements.
The decision comes on the heels of Fallon’s previous ruling April 8 awarding $2.6 million to seven Virginia homeowners and the comprehensive remediation ordered for the Hernandez home echoes Fallon’s previous ruling that only stringent remediation standards would suffice to solve the problem — involving largely gutting the homes of all drywall and other components such as wiring, pipes, electronics and appliances.
Stay tuned as additional trials are set and heard. If you suspect you have Chinese Drywall, do not wait. Act now and call our office for a free consultation. Failure to act may prejudice your ability to ever collect for your damages.
Spencer Aronfeld is a member of the Multi-District Litigation Steering Committee, appointed by Judge Fallon in New Orleans.
