Lawyers for Chinese drywall victims are warning clients that some Chinese manufacturers may simply choose to ignore lawsuits filed in the U.S. According to an Associate Press report, attorneys for the thousands of homeowners who have filed lawsuits over Chinese drywall are already considering contingency plans should this occur.

Chinese drywall poured into the U.S. between 1999 and 2007 because of the high demand created by the housing boom. Imports accelerated when the rebuilding that followed Hurricane Charley in Florida in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in 2005, created a drywall shortage. According to The Wall Street Journal, some 500 million pounds of Chinese drywall was imported to the U.S. during the housing boom. That means as many as 100,000 homes throughout the country could have been built with the material. » More: Chinese Drywall Manufacturers May Try to Evade Lawsuits

KB Home says that about 140 homes it built have issues with Chinese drywall. The disclosure was made during a conference call conducted by KB Home last Friday to discuss earnings.

Chinese drywall poured into the U.S. between 1999 and 2007 because of the high demand created by the housing boom. Imports accelerated when the rebuilding that followed Hurricane Charley in Florida in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in 2005, created a drywall shortage. According to The Wall Street Journal, some 500 million pounds of Chinese drywall was imported to the U.S. during the housing boom. That means as many as 100,000 homes throughout the country could have been built with the material. » More: Chinese Drywall Affecting 140 Homes, Builder Says

A default judgment has been issued against Chinese drywall manufacturer Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. The judgment was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon after Taishan Gypsum failed to respond to a class-action lawsuit filed against it.

As we’ve reported previously, attorneys representing an Alabama builder asked Judge Fallon to issue a default judgment after Taishan failed to respond to the builder’s lawsuit. Judge Fallon agreed to issue a preliminary default judgment against the manufacturer if it did not file an appearance before Sept. 24. If the judgment stands, Taishan will not be able to present a defense to the numerous Chinese drywall suits filed against it. » More: Chinese Drywall Manufacturer Hit with Default Judgment

Lawmakers yesterday pressed for a speedier Chinese drywall investigation during a closed-door meeting with officials from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, lawmakers from Florida and other affected states are frustrated that the agency has postponed the release of Chinese drywall testing results.

Over the summer, the CPSC had promised that the results from indoor air testing of 50 homes with Chinese drywall would be available in September, but that deadline was pushed back to October. Then, just this week, the CPSC moved the release date to November. According to the Herald-Tribune, there is no release date specified for studies on electrical and fire safety concerns. » More: Chinese Drywall Discussed at Capitol Hill Meeting

There will be no recall of defective Chinese drywall. According to a report on News-Press.com, Inez Tenenbaum, head of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said that instead, her agency will establish a uniform protocol to remediate the Chinese drywall, and push Congress for a funding source to help homeowners.

Tenenbaum was in Florida yesterday to get a first-hand look at the damage done by the Chinese drywall. According to News-Press.com, she visited the Cape Coral home of Richard and Patti Kampf, where she saw damage to plumbing fixtures and other items. It was the first time Tenenbaum had personally viewed drywall damage, the report said. » More: CPSC Commissioner Sees Chinese Drywall Damage First Hand, Says Recall Won’t be Issued

Some homeowners in the California desert town of Indio are experiencing the foul odors and corrosion problems seen in homes built with Chinese drywall. But according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, their builder – Miami-based Lennar Homes – is insisting that defective Chinese drywall is not to blame.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), homeowners in 26 states and the District of Columbia have filed 1,311 complaints with the agency over Chinese drywall. While the majority – 997 – have come from Florida, a few have come from California homeowners. Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory an sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. » More: Lennar Says Chinese Drywall Not to Blame for Problems in California Homes

Anxious Louisiana homeowners packed a Chinese drywall town hall meeting in Mandeville last night. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the event attracted people from as far away as Baton Rouge.

The town hall was hosted by state Sens. Julie Quinn, R-Metairie, and A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell. The crowd – estimated at around 500 – was too large for the Mandeville City Hall, so Sen. Quinn held a second meeting right after the first in an attempt to accommodate all who wanted to attend, the Times-Picayune said. Sen. Quinn promised to hold other Chinese drywall meetings in the future. » More: Louisiana Chinese Drywall Meeting Draws Overflow Crowd

A Chinese drywall town hall meeting will be held this evening in Mandeville, Louisiana. State Senators Julie Quinn and A.G. Crowe will host the meeting, which is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Mandeville City Hall.

Louisiana is among the states hardest hit by the Chinese drywall crisis. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), 167 homeowners there have filed complaints with the agency. However, it is likely that thousands of homes in the state contain the defective material. Many of the Chinese drywall homes in Louisiana were among those rebuilt following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. » More: Louisiana Senators to Host Chinese Drywall Town Hall Meeting

Another Virginia subdivision, Hollymeade in Newport News, may have a Chinese drywall problem. According to a report on WVEC.com, Chinese drywall has been confirmed in one Hollymeade home, and scores more will be inspected because of the discovery.

Last week, the head of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said the agency had received 1,192 incident reports about drywall from 24 states, including the District of Colombia. The majority of those reports have come from Florida, followed by Louisiana and Virginia. Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. » More: Chinese Drywall Raises Concerns in Newport News, VA Subdivision

Lawmakers were promised a vigorous investigation of the Chinese drywall problem currently plaguing homeowners across the nation. According to a Miami Herald report, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) head Inez Tenenbaum also told lawmakers from affected states that her agency was “pouring a record amount of money and manpower” into its drywall investigation.

At a briefing yesterday, Tenenbaum said the CPSC had received d 1,192 incident reports about drywall from 24 states, including the District of Colombia. The majority of those reports have come from Florida, followed by Louisiana and Virginia, the Miami Herald said. Tenenbaum also said the CPSC’s internal drywall task force, which is working with other federal and state agencies, had been in China last month as part of its investigation. She said the task force met with Chinese government and industry officials, and collected samples and other information to aid their investigation. » More: Lawmakers Briefed on Chinese Drywall Probe

Court ordered home inspections have begun in the Chinese drywall litigation. According to News-Press.com, the first 30 such inspections will be completed by September 14.

The home inspections were ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is overseeing the massive Chinese Drywall Multidistrict Litigation in New Orleans. According to News-Press.com, around 2,000 lawsuits are pending in that litigation, but plaintiffs’ attorneys say more than 50,000 homes could ultimately be involved. » More: Home Inspections in Chinese Drywall Lawsuits Underway

More Chinese drywall manufacturers could soon be added as defendants in the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation currently underway in federal court in New Orleans. According to a report in the Sarasota Herald Tribune, last Thursday lawyers involved in the litigation revealed that 36 separate variations of tainted drywall have been found – far more than had originally been expected.

The variations were found after lawyers in the cases were told to document identifying marks on Chinese drywall found in affected homes, the Herald Tribune said. Photographs filed with the court last week show names such as Crescent City Gypsum Inc., International Materials Trading, ProWall and Dragon Brand Drywall. » More: More Chinese Drywall Manufacturers Identified, Could be Added to Lawsuits

Homeowner are not the only victims of Chinese drywall. The defective material is turning up in rental homes, apartments and condos as well. Many renters plagued by the odors, corrosion and health problems linked to Chinese drywall are asking questions about their legal rights.

Consumers in 24 states have filed a total of 1,174 Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. » More: Can Renters with Chinese Drywall Break Their Lease?

The Lieutenant Governor of Florida can be added to the ever-growing list of homeowners who have filed Chinese drywall lawsuits. According to News-Press.com, the federal lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Kottkamp and his wife claims that Knauf Gips KG and Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. LTD “manufactured, processed, distributed, delivered, supplied, inspected, marketed and/or sold” defective Chinese drywall in their North Fort Meyers home.

Consumers in 24 states have filed a total of 1,174 Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Hundreds of homeowners have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers, distributors, builders and others in the Chinese drywall supply chain. Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. » More: Chinese Drywall Lawsuit Filed by Florida Lt. Governor