Fla. Drywall Cases Can Proceed Alongside Similar MDL Claims

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A state court judge has ruled that Chinese drywall lawsuits filed by several Florida homeowners may proceed, despite the existence of substantially similar claims pending in the federal drywall MDL. Bennett v. Centerline Homes Inc., etc., No. 5022009CA014458 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Palm Beach Cty.).

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Glenn D. Kelley said in a July 30 order that plaintiffs should be permitted to move forward with the claims and that he would attempt to alleviate any burden on defendants caused by potentially duplicative discovery that may occur as a result of the parallel …