With more than 3000 homes involved in some form of litigation over Chinese Drywall, engineers of all sorts are being called upon to investigate the infected properties and report on its conclusions.

The Chinese Drywall problem, however, presents a lot of practical and scientific challenges. As engineers scratch the surface of these claims, they find more and more questions about the drywall and its damages.

Scott Wolfe has presented to the Louisiana Engineering Society and the American Society of Civil Engineers on precisely these questions, and specifically to answer this question: What Are You Looking For?

Scott’s presentation breaks down the search into three categories:

(1) Is it There? This is the most basic question posed to engineers; simply determining whether the home does or does not have contaminated drywall.

(2) How Deep Are The Damages? This question inquires as to just how deep into the home the damages go. Does it affect the wiring? Does it affect the building studs? Not only does this have relevance to the next category of inquiry, but is also has relevance to determine who is liable for the losses. A prime example of how this affects liability concerns builders and the New Home Warranty Act. If the damages go so deep as to create a structural defect, the NHWA will have broader applicability.

(3) What Type of Damages and How To Remediate. The final question requires determination of how to fix the problems, and to identify what type of damages the problem caused.

Here is the Keynote presentation used during these talks, brought to you by SlideShare:

Since our last post here at the Chinese Drywall Blog was on September 2, 2009, you might be wondering if we disappeared?

We certainly don’t like to have so much time pass in-between posts, but sometimes, work and life gets in the way and it happens.   Sorry to all of our readers.    Over the past two months we’ve gotten very busy with Chinese Drywall claims, other work and even personal matters (my wife & I took a bit of trip for our anniversary at the end of Sept.).

The good news is that we’re back in the saddle and you can expect to the regular updates and discussion on Chinese Drywall law to continue.      A lot has happened…and continues to happen.

Are you learning about Chinese Drywall for the first time? Are you looking for representation in a Chinese Drywall dispute?

Check out Wolfe Law Group’s newly published Chinese Drywall brochure and learn how to get started on your drywall lawsuit.

As homeowners retain Wolfe Law Group to represent them against their builders and insurers, we’re encountering some frequently asked questions.   We thought that these questions (and answers) were widely applicable to those considering representation, and so we are posting them here.   Please read the disclaimer at the end of this post.

Who is liable for my damages?

This is the golden question.  The Chinese Drywall situation is unique in that there are so many parties, and so many possibly claims.   The builder, supplier, manufacturer, and insurers may all have exposure for the damages under various legal theories.  It’s too soon to say who will ultimately be liable for Chinese Drywall damages.   Wolfe Law Group recommends filing direct individual actions against the builders and suppliers, their insurers, and a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Is this a class action?

The action recommended by Wolfe Law Group is not part of the Chinese Drywall “class action.”   While the class action has merit, it is a suit against the manufacturer and not the builders and insurers.  The class action litigation could take a long time to resolve, may have problems collecting from foreign defendants and does not address the liability of builders, local suppliers and insurers.

Wolfe Law Group encourages its clients to talk with class action attorneys about being represented in these proceedings, as claims against the manufactures do have merit.   However, Wolfe Law Group does not represent you in these actions.

How long will my lawsuit take?

It’s difficult to predict the length of any litigation, as some cases may settle shortly after filing a complaint, and others may take years to resolve.   On the one hand, Chinese Drywall claims present unique legal arguments that may take some time to resolve.  On the other hand, however, the claims will be expensive to litigate and this encourages settlement.   In general, lawsuits take between 8 months and 4 years to resolve.

What do I do now?

If you retain Wolfe Law Group as counsel, we will begin litigation promptly after retention.  You will be kept apprised of the progress of your case, and as we require information about your claim, we will contact you to acquire it.   We will also schedule an inspection of your property to confirm the presence of contaminated drywall.

From a non-legal perspective, the health effects of Chinese Drywall are still unknown.  If you are living in a home with Chinese Drywall, it is safest to find alternative living arrangements.   We do understand that some do not have the means to make this move, and in these circumstances we recommend having the drywall replaced as soon as possible.

Disclaimer:  These frequently asked questions and answers are posted to provide information to property owners who have contacted Wolfe Law Group and are interested in retaining the firm in representing them against builders and insurers.  The information posted herein is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney / client relationship between Wolfe Law Group and the reader.    To become a client of our firm and retain Wolfe Law Group, it is required that you sign a Fee Agreement.  Only upon the signing of a Fee Agreement will an attorney/client relationship be created, and legal advice procured.   This post is provided for information only.