Warner, Kaine call on Chinese drywall firm to reimburse Virginians

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have urged Taishan Gypsum, a Chinese drywall manufacturer, to settle with builders and homeowners after a federal appeals court in Louisiana last month confirmed U.S. jurisdiction in the dispute.

A federal court has ordered Taishan to pay $2.7 million to seven Hampton Roads homeowners. Another 300 Virginia families are suing Taishan Gypsum.

“On behalf of thousands of Americans that continue to deal with the effects of problem Chinese drywall, we again write to urge you to reach a fair and just settlement,” a group of seven senators, including the two Virginians, wrote in a letter to Taishan.

They said Taishan Gypsum should pay to replace defective drywall and other costs incurred by homeowners. 

Another Chinese drywall company, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, has created a fund to pay for repairing about 5,200 properties largely in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

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