Day in Court Expected for Chinese Drywall Homeowners

Palm Beach County homeowners affected by Chinese drywall will get their day in court. For the first time making it clear that Palm Beach homeowners are entitled to trial in state court, Palm Beach County Circuit Court rules that actions filed on behalf of all victims can now proceed to trial. Click here to view a copy of the transcript from the July 30 hearing as well as the order on case management conference outlining this ruling.

This significant landmark ruling keeps homeowners from being lumped into a class-action suit with other homeowners. Previously, defendants (developers, builders, installers and suppliers) had argued that state court cases should be stayed, and the only available avenue for relief for victims would be in multi-district litigation in New Orleans.

Although a trial date has not yet been set, the Law Firm of Roberts & Durkee hopes to push our cases through to trial by the end of the year or early 2011.  As the recently appointed head of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for Palm Beach County, I am personally working to seek justice and expeditiously push these cases through the state court system.

In what has been a long road for homeowners seeking resolution, this ruling offers a renewed sense of hope.

For reference on this landmark ruling, please view:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s latest report, which includes the newest developments about the investigation of Chinese drywall cases.

Recent media coverage of this issue:

• UPI.com: Judge green-lights Chinese drywall cases (8-12-2010)
• The Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County drywall cases to move forward (8-11-10)
• ABC WPBF-TV Channel 25: Chinese drywall victims can go to trial (8-12-10)
• NBC WPTV-TV Channel 5: Defective Chinese drywall cases to be heard in Palm Beach County (8-12-10)
• Daily Business Journal: Judge OKs $6.6 million settlement (8-12-10)