Over 2000 lawsuits filed in Chinese drywall cases • U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson has discussed drywall issues with Chinese officials

STATEWIDE - The Jacksonville Business Journal (8/19) reported, "U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said in a media release Tuesday he pressed Chinese officials in recent trips there to cooperate more fully in investigations of defective high-sulfur drywall that was made in China and is ruining homes in the United States." While in Shanghai last week, "Nelson, D-Florida, met with Wang Zhiyong, deputy director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Chinese government's consumer product safety agency." Nelson said his trip and a CPSC delegation visit to China this week "send a message that the United States is serious about China taking responsibility for some of the problems caused by its drywall. Nelson said in the release he intends to insist that drywall be on the agenda for planned meetings this fall between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao."

GlobalPost (8/17, Skrzycki) reported, Over 2000 lawsuits filed in Chinese drywall cases "Since 2006, new home owners in 23 states have been suffering from what they say are odorous batches of corrosive drywall that were imported from at least one gypsum mine in China and used by U.S home builders."

Attorneys "representing homeowners estimate more than 2,000 lawsuits already have been filed in state and federal courts, targeting Chinese, U.S. and German companies, as well as builders, installers, suppliers, distributors and import brokers." One of the most prominent Chinese manufacturers named "is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. Others are Knauf Plasterboard Wuhu Co. Ltd and Knauf Plasterboard Dongguan Co. Ltd., as well as a German affiliate, Knauf Gips KG. There are numerous other Chinese companies being added to legal complaints as time goes on, such as Beijing New Building Material PLC."

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Florida Victims of Accidents Caused by Governmental Negligence Face Limited Recoveries

Many of our client's are surprise to learn that anyone injured by the negligent actions of any employee of the State of Florida, any of its political subdivisions, including those employees of a County or City, is limited, regardless of how seriously they are injured, to a maximum recovery of $100,000.00. This limitation or cap, which applies to car accidents, slip and falls, and even medical malpractice occurring at a County run hospital, is known as sovereign immunity.

The Florida Legislature passed this law, known as Florida Statute section 768.28, to shield governments from paying for all of the damages caused by their employee's negligence, while allegedly giving accident victims a source of recovery. Unfortunately, for Florida accident victims, especially those who are catastrophically injured, the $100,000.00 cap is woefully inadequate.

Only in the rarest of circumstances does the Florida Legislature entertain, much less pass, a "Claims Bill," which may provide an accident victim with a greater recovery, only if the Legislature and the Governor enact a specific law to help a specifically injured person. Even when the governmental entity, which caused the catastrophic injury, wants to pay the accident victim more than the $100,000.00 cap, the victim must go through the difficult process of pursing a Claims Bill.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM (888) 392-LAWS (5297). The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.