“Demonstration” Program to Help Homeowners in Four States with Chinese Drywall

NEW ORLEANS (October 14, 2010) –Bruce Steckler, head of Baron & Budd’s general litigation section and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the Chinese Drywall Multi-District Litigation (MDL), joins in supporting an agreement in the litigation between the PSC and defendant Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin to establish a remediation program for homes impacted by Chinese Drywall problems.

“This is the first step to a complete resolution with Knauf. We will continue to prosecute claims against Knauf and other manufacturers of Chinese Drywall until we get a final resolution,” said Steckler. “We’re very pleased with this program.”

This pilot program, funded by Knauf and a number of builders, drywall suppliers and their insurers, will include the removal of Chinese Drywall in up to 300 homes in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. If it is successful, the program could be extended to other plaintiffs with the problem drywall.

Under the new agreement with Knauf, approximately 300 homeowners in four states will have their homes remediated through a process overseen by Knauf and inspected, once completed, by environmental engineers who will certify compliance with rigorous standards.

As a member of the PSC, Steckler was involved in the negotiations for this test program. In his role as shareholder at Baron & Budd, Steckler oversees the lawsuits of approximately 600 homeowners and represents the WCI Trust in its claims against Chinese Drywall.

Chinese Drywall was imported into the U.S. between 2001 and 2006 after a housing boom resulted in a shortage of building materials. The defective drywall has been linked to serious property issues, such as corrosion of metal components and appliances, and even health issues, including headaches, bloody noses and difficulty breathing. States of particular concern include Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Nevada, California, Virginia and South Carolina.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

Dallas-based Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Baton Rouge, Austin, Beverly Hills and Miami, is a nationally recognized law firm with a 30-year history of "Protecting What’s Right" for people and communities harmed by corporate negligence. Baron & Budd’s size and resources enable the firm to take on large and complex cases. The firm represents individuals, government and business entities in areas as diverse as asbestos-related illnesses, water contamination, Qui Tam, California Proposition 65 violations, pharmaceutical injuries, Chinese drywall, insurance claims and securities fraud. Most recently, the firm has begun to represent individuals and businesses affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Active in the community, Baron & Budd pledged $3 million over five years to the International Pleural Mesothelioma Program at Brigham Women’s Hospital and has supported the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, Lung Cancer Alliance and other asbestos awareness and advocacy organizations. http://baronandbudd.com/.