Judge Awards $164K in Chinese Drywall Case

(CBS/ AP)  A federal judge has awarded more than $164,000 to a family whose home was ruined by Chinese-made drywall.

Tuesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon comes less than a month after he awarded $2.6 million to seven Virginia families. Fallon's earlier decision was the first for a batch of federal lawsuits over drywall-tainted homes.

Fallon presided over a trial without a jury for the case brought by the Hernandez family of Mandeville, La.

He ruled all drywall must be removed and the home needs to gutted. He also agreed that electrical wiring, plumbing components, the heating and air conditioning system and appliances must be replaced.

Manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. argued the family's home can be repaired for less than $59,000.

The CBS News investigative unit first reported last year about the thousands of Americans forced out of their homes by defective, rotting drywall. But the investigative unit also found that there maybe be problems with American-made drywall.

More on Chinese Drywall

Feds: Gut U.S. Homes with Chinese Drywall
U.S.: Chinese Drywall, Corrosion Linked
Feds: Chinese Drywall Reports Inconclusive
U.S. Meets with China Over Safety Issues
Insurers: Chinese Drywall? Go Away
CBS News Investigates: Homeowners' Nightmare
Company: We Didn't Make Toxic Drywall
Early Show: Is Your Drywall A Rotting Health Hazard?

The drywall has been linked to corrosion of wiring, air conditioning units, computers, doorknobs and jewelry, along with possible health effects.

[Gbrincku]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWLbxR8O-sQ ?A Cry for Help?. This is for all the victims of American & Chinese defective drywall.

[Gbrincku]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWLbxR8O-sQ ?A Cry for Help?.

[mgunn89512]

Sad but inconclusive. Sounds like the asbestos fiasco all over again...