Timeline of Key Events Regarding Defective Chinese Drywall

Contact: Jennifer Fuson 

(Jennifer.fuson@Justice.org) 

202-965-3500 x8609 

Timeline of Key Events Regarding Defective Chinese Drywall 1 

2005 Major hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, including Hurricane Katrina, coupled 

with a nationwide housing boom spur a demand for drywall. 

2006 Imports of Chinese drywall spike to nearly 500 million pounds, up from 

less than 2 million pounds in 2005. The drywall is shipped to more than 15 

U.S. cities, including New York, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, 

Wilmington, Miami, Port Everglades, Tampa, Pensacola, Port Canaveral, 

Manatee and Jacksonville. 

Complaints surface about an odor in the drywall and Knauf Tianjin hired 

experts to investigate testing air quality in homes in South Florida. They 

found no health concerns related to the odor or any emissions in the 

residences. 

2007 After the housing boom crashes, most Chinese manufacturers stop 

shipping drywall to the U.S. However, Taishan (Chinese drywall 

manufacturer) still sends 4.7 million pounds of drywall to the U.S. 

June 2008 

August 2008 

September 2008 

Florida Department of Health (DOH) receives its first call from 

homeowner about sulfur and carbon disulfide odor related to the imported 

drywall. 

Florida DOH receives inquiries about homes with mysterious sulfur-like 

odor and copper corrosion from a private consultant and the US 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA considers gypsum 

drywall as a possible source of odors and corrosion, but believes the 

problem is likely not widespread. 

A consultant, Environ, investigates odors and corrosion in homes with 

Chinese drywall for a south Florida homebuilder, Lennar, and offers to 

share their findings with Florida DOH. 

1 This timeline is periodically updated on AAJ’s Newsroom Web page, 

http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/743.htm. For updated current developments in MDL 

2047, see the Web site for the Unites States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana at 

http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/Drywall/Drywall.htm.

October 2008 

Florida DOH hires Dr. David Krause as the state toxicologist. 

November 2008 

Florida DOH makes initial contact with the federal Consumer Product 

Safety Commission (CPSC). 

December 2008 

Forensic inspectors start to investigate allegedly toxic drywall. 

CPSC first discovers tainted drywall. 

January 2009 

Florida health officials log more than 50 complaints stemming from 

Chinese drywall. 

Florida DOH receives a report from Lennar’s consultant, Environ, and 

Knauf regarding testing done on homes with failures of AC evaporator 

coils. 

In Florida, the Environmental Health division of DOH conducts an 

inspection of 12 homes affected by the drywall in six counties to identify 

any common traits, develop a case definition, and collect samples of 

drywall for analysis. 

The first class action lawsuit is filed in federal court in Fort Myers on 

January 30 regarding defective Chinese drywall. 

February 2009 

Florida DOH meets with representatives from the Department of 

Agriculture and Consumer Services (DoACS), the Florida Department of 

Consumer Affairs (DCA), and the Attorney General’s office. 

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) asks CPSC to consider adding drywall to 

the existing standards for consumer products and to work with the EPA in 

investigating and potential health threats posed by the defective drywall. 

The CPSC and EPA launch a federal investigation of Chinese drywall 

problems. 

Homebuilder Lennar Corp. files suit against Knauf Tianjin, a Chinese 

export company, and several drywall suppliers. 

So far, 90 complaints have been filed with Florida DOH from 14 counties. 

Defective drywall in homes is confirmed in Florida, Michigan, Virginia, 

Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado, 

Nevada, and New Mexico.

March 2009 

Florida DOH receives a memo from Environ concerning detection of 

elemental sulfur at a concentration 20 times higher in Chinese versus 

domestic drywall. 

Testing commissioned by Florida DOH and conducted by a private lab, 

Unified Engineering, Inc., finds that samples of Chinese manufactured 

drywall contained trace levels of strontium sulfide. 

Florida DOH receives at least 155 homeowner complaints. 

Environmental testing shows defective drywall has been found in homes 

in 41 states. 

At least 4 class actions are filed in Florida, with others filed in California, 

Louisiana and Alabama. 

Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL) requests assistance from the EPA and 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, (D-FL) and Sen. Mary Landrieu, (D-LA) introduce 

federal legislation, the Drywall Safety Act of 2009, S.739, calling for the 

CPSC to recall defective Chinese drywall, ramp up its investigation and 

temporarily prohibit further importation of drywall and similar building 

products from China until new safety standards can be created. 

April 2009 

Florida DOH Surgeon General and Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL) 

tour homes; DOH Chief of Staff and DOH State Toxicologist tour homes 

with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). 

Florida DOH requests a health hazard evaluation to assess occupational 

hazards related to cleanup of homes with Chinese drywall from the 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 

Florida begins to test the air in homes with Chinese drywall in order to 

determine whether fumes emitted are actually sickening people. 

China offers to send someone to the CPSC to help with the investigation 

into tainted Chinese drywall. 

Florida DOH complaints grow to 265 cases. 

The Louisiana state health department receives complaints from at least 

350 people. 

U.S. Rep Robert Wexler, (D-FL), sends a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist (R- 

FL) asking him to declare a state of emergency, which would make 

residents eligible for federal funds for assistance.

Gov. Crist sends requests to the EPA and CDC asking for help- with 

problems attributed to tainted Chinese drywall. 

U.S. Rep Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduces legislation, H.R. 1977 (a 

companion to the Drywall Safety Act of 2009 introduced in the Senate) in 

Congress calling for a study and federal ban on dangerous drywall. 

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, (D-Greenacres), asks Gov. Crist (R-FL) to 

create a task force to investigate the drywall problem and develop 

statewide policies and possibly legislation related to the defective drywall. 

Senator Mary Laundrieu, (D-LA), sends a letter to the Senate Commerce 

Committee requesting a hearing on the Chinese drywall problem. 

U.S. Sen. Nelson (D-FL) calls for CPSC Chairwoman Nancy Nord’s 

resignation over Chinese drywall. 

The Drywall Safety Act of 2009 is introduced in Congress. The 

legislation requires the CPSC to study drywall that was imported from 

China and initiate a proceeding on whether a safety standard regulating 

drywall materials is necessary. 

May 2009 CPSC submits an emergency budget request to Congress asking for $2 

million to pay for various expenses related to its probe of tainted Chinese 

drywall. CPSC is working with the EPA and health departments, the CDC, 

the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and U.S. Customs 

and Border Protection. 

Number of complaints received by Florida DOH now 365. 

CPSC has more than 18 complaints from 13 states and D.C. of health 

problems or corrosion of metal components. 

At least 150 lawsuits have been filed across Florida representing at least 

15,000 plaintiffs. 

Chinese drywall lawsuit consolidation hearing is scheduled for May 27, 

2009 

The first piece of legislation related to defective Chinese drywall is passed 

by Congress: an amendment to the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory 

Lending Act, which calls for the Secretary of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD), in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, to 

conduct a study of the effect of the presence of contaminated Chinese 

drywall on residential mortgage loan foreclosures. The amendment also 

requires these agencies to study the availability of property insurance for 

homes where Chinese drywall is present.

The Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and 

Insurance holds a hearing on Chinese drywall and the Senate Committee 

on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the 

Courts holds a hearing on holding foreign manufacturers accountable, 

using Chinese drywall as an example. 

The EPA tests confirm Chinese drywall contains sulfur not found in U.S. 

drywall tested, also contains strontium, at ten times the level of domestic 

drywall, and identifies two compounds found in acrylic paint. 

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) file a budget 

amendment seeking $2 million in emergency funding for Chinese drywall 

testing. This request fails to move forward in the U.S. Senate after 

procedural wrangling blocks its advance. 

Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) pledges to help CPSC get necessary testing 

done using their current budget. CPSC says resources are being moved 

around to allow testing of drywall to begin in case additional $2 million is 

not approved. 

June 2009 

Representatives Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 

send a letter to respective leaders of the House and Senate Committees on 

Appropriations urging for emergency funding be included in the 

Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 for Chinese drywall 

investigations by the CPSC and other federal agencies. 

The Florida Department of Health completes three days of air-quality tests 

at a home in Parkland, FL built with defective Chinese drywall. 

CPSC launches the Drywall Information Center, where consumers can 

report incidents and track the CPSC’s investigation. As of June 26, 2009, 

CPSC has received more than 460 reports from residents in 19 states and 

the District of Columbia. The majority come from consumers residing in 

Florida while others come from consumers in Alabama, Arizona, 

California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New 

Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, 

Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Their 

website is: http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html. 

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigns U.S. District Judge 

Eldon Fallon in New Orleans to hear a batch of lawsuits against Chinese 

drywall manufacturers and other companies linked to the product. The 

judges consolidated cases from Louisiana, Florida, Ohio and other states. 

Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Jim Webb (D-VA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), 

and Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA) write to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

asking the agency to provide clarity on whether casualty loss deductions 

could apply to effected homeowners. Casualty loss deduction is meant to

cover losses from the complete or partial destruction of property resulting 

from a sudden, unexpected and unusual identifiable event. 

The lawsuit over Chinese drywall brought by Melissa and Jason Harrell 

against South Kendall Construction, Palm Holdings, Keys Gate Realty and 

Banner Supply Co. has been scheduled to go to trial in Miami-Dade 

Circuit Court in September 2010. 

Two experts with China's General Administration for Quality Supervision, 

Inspection and Quarantine -- known as AQSIQ -- arrived in the U.S. the 

week of June 15 to investigate Chinese drywall in the United States and 

meet with CPSC officials. 

CPSC awards a contract to Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) 

to carry out in-home indoor air sampling on 50 homes—35 target homes 

selected from CPSC’s incident and investigation databases, plus 15 control 

homes. 

July 2009 

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana designates 

Russ Herman as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and appoints Kerry J. Miller 

as Defendants’ Liaison Counsel for the consolidated Chinese drywall 

cases, MDL 2047. 

The initial monthly status conference is held on July 9 in New Orleans, 

LA. The Court considers numerous issues, including separation of 

property damage from personal injury claims, deferral of class 

certification, preservation of evidence, and service and personal 

jurisdiction on foreign defendants. 

On July 27, the Court appoints Defendants’ and Plaintiffs’ Steering 

Committees, with Arnold Levin as lead counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering 

Committee. 

August 2009 

As of August 6, 2009, CPSC has received more than 810 Chinese drywall 

incident reports from residents in 23 states and the District of Columbia. 

In-home sampling by EHE is expected to be completed by the end of 

August. 

Sen. Nelson went to Shanghai to discuss the issue of toxic drywall and 

other issues with Chinese officials. 

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Assistant 

Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduce the “Foreign 

Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009 (S. 1606), legislation that 

would make it easier to hold foreign manufacturers accountable in the 

U.S. civil justice system. 

The status conference for the consolidated Chinese drywall cases held on 

on August 11.

CPSC releases a statement saying that Chinese drywall is not radioactive. 

http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/phosphogypsum.pdf 

September 2009 

On September 4, photos of toxic drywall trademarks are released by the 

multidistrict litigation panel for the Chinese-Manufactured Drywall 

Products Liability Litigation. 

http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/drywall/drywall.htm 

CPSC announces test results of the drywall has been pushed back from 

September to October. The results of air testing will be released in 

November. 

September 14 

September 22 

September 22 

September 23 

A Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge holds a hearing to determine if 

a class action can be certified for homeowners with Chinese drywall in the 

Keys Gate subdivision in Homestead, FL. 

Louisiana Recovery Authority set aside $5 million of federal Community 

Development Block Grant disaster recovery money to help homeowners 

who rebuilt their houses with contaminated drywall. The program for 

distributing the money has not been developed yet. 

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/09/lra_sets_aside_5_million_ 

for_p.html 

Sen. Warner (D-VA) sent a letter to the CPSC scolding them for 

their slow response to the Chinese drywall problem. 

http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Blog&ContentRecord_id=ffb53b0ecdc3-48dd-bfbc-fe37550fc265 

Members of Congress, CPSC and other federal agencies meet to discuss the slow 

response of the federal agencies to the Chinese drywall problem, and possible 

creation of a federal remediation program. CPSC acknowledges recall of drywall 

unlikely because of complexity with having drywall installed in consumers’ homes. 

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090924/ARTICLE/909241080/2107/BUSI 

NESS?Title=Quicker-pace-urged-in-tackling-drywall-problems 

Lawyers discuss publically considering seizing Chinese government 

owned ships that come into U.S. harbors and holding U.S. investment 

bankers responsible for Chinese drywall. This is in direct response to only 

two of the 28 companies identified with drywall responding to U.S. filed 

lawsuits.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/28/ap/national/main534 

6998.shtml 

In Louisiana, homeowners have until the end of October to file suits 

related to Chinese drywall. 

September 24 

U.S. District Court found, Taishan Gypsum in 

preliminary default for failing to respond to the court proceedings. 

http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/10537.htm

October 2009 

CPSC has received about 1,501 reports from residents in 27 states, the 

District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who believe their health symptoms 

or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to 

the presence of drywall produced in China. CPSC staff confirms 

that nearly 7-million (6,997,456) sheets of Chinese drywall were 

imported into the U.S. in 2006. 

October 1 

October 7 

October 7 

October 8-9 

October 13 

October 

October 15 

Louisiana State Sen. Julie Quinn (R-Metairie) visits Washington, DC on 

behalf of victims of Chinese drywall to meet with members of the Senate 

Judiciary Committee. State Senator Quinn calls on President Barack 

Obama to bring up the Chinese drywall issue, and China's responsibility, 

when he visits China in November. 

Florida Senate’s Community Affairs Committee holds 

a hearing to address toxic drywall. To date it is still legal to sell toxic 

Chinese drywall and there is no relief in place for homeowners. 

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and three other senators sent a letter to the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting rental and other 

emergency assistance for homeowners affected by Chinese Drywall. They 

gave FEMA until Nov. 7 to respond. 

Residents of Virginia share their stories of Chinese drywall problems with 

members of the CPSC and member of Congress. 

A top housing official tours Chinese drywall tainted homes and says that 

help is on the way. 

Insurance companies cancel coverage to homeowners who have Chinese 

drywall in their homes. 

U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon issued his strongest warning 

against Taishan Gypsum, a company that was found in preliminary default 

at the September hearing. The judge said as soon as attorneys are ready to 

submit evidence of monetary damages, he is prepared to move forward 

and will consider seizing any U.S. assets of the company to help pay the 

judgment. 

Also, attorneys for Knauf Gips argued they should not be held liable in the 

U.S. courts, and instead argued the court should cede authority to German 

courts and the Hague Convention. Judge Fallon gave reasons why he will 

deny the motion, saying, “It's not a case that can wait.” He said he will 

issue a paper motion in a few days. More details available in this article: 

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20091016/ARTICLE/910161016

October 15 

October 

October 21-26 

October 22 

October 29 

October 29 

President Obama visits Gulf Coast to visit areas continuing to 

recover from Hurricane Katrina. He does not address drywall. 

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida sent letters to 11 insurance companies 

requesting policy guidelines on Chinese drywall and expressing outrage at 

cancelations. 

Consumer Product Safety Summit between the CPSC and its counterpart 

agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, 

and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ), held in Wuxi, 

Jinhua, and Beijing, China October 21-26, 2009. The U.S. asks China to 

aid in the drywall investigation and do the right thing for homeowners. 

Citizen Property Insurance Corp. reverses its decision to not insure people 

with Chinese drywall in their homes. It continues to cover homes with 

Chinese drywall. 

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Agency for Toxic 

Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) release their initial findings in 

the drywall investigation (available at www.dryallresponse.gov). Findings 

suggest increased level of elemental sulfur and strontium. There is still no 

recall or ban on any brand of Chinese drywall. 

Senator Bill Nelson (FL-D) asks President Obama to seek China’s 

cooperation in the investigation of Chinese drywall when he visits the 

country in Nov. 

November 2009 

November 4 

November 12 

November 15-18 

November 16 

November 18 

Sens. Bill Nelson, George LeMieux, Mary Landrieu, David Vitter, Mark 

Warner, and Jim Webb encourage lenders to delay or suspend mortgage 

payments, without penalty, for families with contaminated drywall. 

Louisiana Recovery Authority approves $5 million plan to help 

homeowners with Chinese drywall. 

President Obama visits China; Chinese drywall on agenda. 

Senators Bill Nelson, David Vitter, Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker, and Jim 

Webb sent a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on 

Chinese drywall scams. 

Rep. Charlie Melancon introduces the Drywall Victims Insurance 

Protection Act.

November 19 

November 

November 23 

U.S. District Court in New Orleans status hearing in New Orleans. 

To date, The CPSC has spent $3.5 million on their investigation, and 

received at least 1,897 reports from residents in 30 states, the District of 

Columbia, and Puerto Rico who believe their homes contain toxic drywall. 

The CPSC releases second set of testing results linking corrosion to 

drywall. Report available at www.dryallresponse.gov . 

December 2009 

December 2 

December 3 

December 3 

December 9 

Deadline for homeowners to be included in omnibus complaint against 

Knauf Plasterboard. Knauf has agreed to accept service of process for this 

complaint only, instead of the typical procedure of going through the 

Hague Convention to file a complaint. All cases need to be in to Arnold 

Levin of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman in Philadelphia. 

Tax breaks for certain homeowners seriously impacted by Chinese drywall 

are proposed. Article at: 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/dec/03/chinese-drywall-victimscould-get-big-tax-breaks/ 

Mayor Carlos Alvarez of Miami-Dade said that the county is eliminating 

about $1,200 permitting and inspection fees to replace bad drywall. 

Article: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/county-helpingdrywall-victims-78453672.html 

Complaint against Knauf to be filed. 

January 2010 Trial to begin in multidistrict litigation on Chinese drywall in New 

Orleans. http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/drywall/drywall.htm

Timeline of Key Events Regarding Defective Chinese Drywall

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