A new class action has been filed alleging that Renaissance Commons, a residential condominium complex in Boynton Beach, was constructed with defective Chinese Drywall which is emitting toxic gases into the plaintiffs' homes.
The lawsuit claims that the builder, Coastal Condominiums, should compensate the homeowners for damage caused by the defective drywall, including corrosion of pipes, wiring, HVAC coils, fire sprinklers, and the failure of various electronic products. Also named as defendants are Precision Drywall, the company which installed the drywall, and RCR Holdings II, the seller of the condos. The plaintiffs, owners of six condominium units, seeks to represent all owners of the several hundred condos at Renaissance Commons.
During the Florida building boom, hundreds of millions of pounds of drywall was shipped to ports around the United States from China. While 25 states have reported issues, problems were first noted in Florida, likely because the drywall seems to react strongly in humid conditions.
By June 2008, the state Department of Health had received its first complaint of sulfur odors from a homeowner. Toxicology testing that followed showed some drywall imported from China appeared to be emitting sulfur-based gases that corrode metal, although no cause had been determined.
Homeowners began to link the drywall with failed air conditioners and blackened electrical wiring and jewelry.
About 600 Floridians in 30 counties have reported symptoms such as irritated eyes, bloody noses, rashes and insomnia.
