A verdict in the first jury trial involving defective Chinese drywall may be harbinger of what happens in thousands of similar cases, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last Friday a jury awarded $2.4 million in damages to a Florida couple because the imported drywall in their home emitted an odor so foul that they had to leave the dwelling. This type of Chinese drywall has been used in new homes throughout Florida and other states, areas that saw a building boom several years ago, before the market crashed.
There have been a flood of complaints about the drywall giving off sulfurous fumes that have a rank smell, and that have made residents ill and even damaged their appliances.
In the trial that just ended, a six-person jury found that Armin and Lisa Selfart were entitled to not only reimbursement for having to remove the drywall from their $1.6 million house, but also for damages for the loss of enjoyment of their home and for the difficulty they may have reselling it, according to The Journal.
The award was against drywall distributor Banner Supply Co., which has been named as a defendent in thousands of lawsuits similar to the one filed by the Selfarts, The Journal reported.
An attorney for Banner told the newspaper that his client may appeal the jury verdict.
