Drywall Cases Dismissed After Judge Refuses to Designate Damage as Major Defect

COVINGTON, La. - Two judges in Louisiana have dismissed builders from Chinese drywall lawsuits, with one determining that damage caused by drywall does not constitute a major structural defect that would have permitted the plaintiffs to proceed with their claim under the state's New Home Warranty Act. Laurence, et al. v. E.L. Cretin LLC, et al., No. 2009-17640 (La. Dist. Ct., St. Tammany Prsh.); Mills v. E. Jacob Construction Inc., No. 581172 (La. Dist. Ct., East Baton Rouge Prsh.).

The rulings were issued in August by district courts in St. Tammany and East Baton Rouge parishes after builders E.L. Cretin …