Florida court absolves some builders of Chinese drywall liability

According to The Wall Street Journal (11/12, Wotapka, Whelan) reports that a circuit court judge in Palm Beach County, Florida, has relieved some homebuilders of liability for installing tainted Chinese drywall, which is blamed for torpedoing home values and damaging residents' health.

The ruling is expected to serve as a precedent in other jurisdictions, and was based on the fact that the homebuilders did not manufacture the defective product. Florida's Centerline Homes was the defendant in the relevant case.

TOYOTA / LEXUS - Largest Recall in Toyota's history - 102 Reported incidents

NATIONAL - NHTSA said it "had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved."

According to FORBES - "The impending U.S. recall, the largest in Toyota's history, followed a horrific crash last month in San Diego in which a mat was suspected of snagging a gas pedal on a runaway Lexus, ending with a fiery crash that killed four family members. A minute before the crash, the driver called police to say the car had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck. The runaway car was doing more than 120 mph when it hit a sport-utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames."

FOR IMMEDIATE SAFTEY: Owners should take out the floor mats on the driver's side, not replace them and contact a local Toyota/Lexus dealer.

If you or a loved one has been injured, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate telephone consultation. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and the injury law team are available 24 hours a day. CALL (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

www.trippfirm.com

GENERAL MOTORS LITIGATION - Current claims against GM "not worth pursuing."

NATIONAL - According to an article in The Kansas City Star, "When the 'new' General Motors emerged from bankruptcy earlier this month, consumer groups praised the agreement reached to ensure that the automaker would assume liability for future lawsuits over vehicle defects."

But "those with claims pending against GM would have to seek compensation through the bankruptcy court process, an avenue that most lawyers and experts agree would at best yield 10 cents on the dollar," making them "not worth pursuing."

www.trippfirm.com