American Product Joins Chinese Drywall in Claims of Home Damage

By Jim Greene

Published on January 28, 2010

A class action product liability lawsuit has been filed in Miami federal court against North Carolina drywall manufacturer National Gypsum. The company joins makers of Chinese drywall in being accused of supplying a defective product that causes corrosion of air conditioning coils, wiring, plumbing, and other metal items.

In numerous suits against Chinese drywall makers, distributor, shippers, suppliers, and others, homeowners claim that the product emits gases that smell like rotten eggs and spread destructive corrosion, even to tableware and jewelry. Those claims are echoed in the suit against National Gypsum.

Coal Plant Byproduct Blamed for Damage

The alleged culprit in accusations is fly ash, a byproduct of coal-burning power plants. Previously, it was said that Chinese drywall contains much more of the substance than drywall produced in America. The burning of coal concentrates its contaminants in the resulting fly ash, including compounds said to give off toxic fumes.

National Gypsum has admitted that its Apollo Beach, Fla., plant uses byproducts from Tampa Electric Company, mixed with raw gypsum from Canada.

A spokesman for National Gypsum said the company has conducted tests in homes built with its product and has found sulfur dioxide and other gases, but not in sufficient concentration to cause corrosion.

Health Official Tells Paper Home is Affected

A Florida health official told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that the Fort Myers-area home of one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit was one of the worst affected by drywall-related corrosion he had ever seen. The home contains 90 percent National Gypsum drywall and none from China.

If your home has been damaged by Chinese drywall or drywall from any source, it's urgent that you contact an experienced product liability/personal injury attorney. The evidence for contamination is mounting, and any drywall with fly ash content is suspect. An experienced attorney can help you discover what's in your walls and will fight for monetary compensation to help you deal with it.

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