Defendants Want Counsel in Va. State, Federal Drywall Suits Disqualified

NORFOLK, Va. - Defendants in a Virginia class action have moved to disqualify counsel for plaintiffs in the case, alleging that their representation of two groups of putative class members and several individual plaintiffs in similar state court cases presents an incurable conflict in interest. Germano v. Taishan Gypsum Co., Ltd., et al., No. 09-202 (E.D. Va.).

The motion, filed Sept. 4 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, claims that plaintiffs' concurrent representation of the federal and state court drywall plaintiffs violates state rules of professional conduct because all of the claimants are seeking significant damages …