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Will Homeowners Get $2.6M for Bad Chinese Drywall?

A federal judge in New Orleans today ruled that seven homeowners, who claim defective drywall destroyed their homes, should get a combined total of $2.6 million from the Chinese drywall manufacturer, Taishan Gypsum.

(Left, rotting, damaged drywall.)

But, those homeowners may never see a penny.

"There is no guarantee the company will comply," said Anthony Tarricone, president of the American Association for Justice.

Taishan Gypsum is owned by the Chinese government and the company has yet to respond to the lawsuit. There are no international laws that require the company, based and operated in China, to acknowledge or ever honor any decision made by the United States civil justice system.

U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon ruled that the affected homes must essentially be gutted down to the studs.

Tarricone believes a law must be passed that will hold foreign manufacturers to the same standards and justice system as U.S. manufacturers. But until then, homeowners may still be on their own in dealing with the problem.

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