Left Out of Negotiations, Builders Object to Banner Drywall Settlement

NEW ORLEANS - Homebuilders in the federal Chinese Drywall MDL have filed briefs opposing the recently announced Banner Supply Co. settlement, which they say was negotiated without their input and forecloses their rights to pursue millions spent on fixing drywall-affected homes. In Re: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2047 (E.D. La.).

In a July 5 response in opposition to the settlement, certain homebuilders assert that they were intentionally left out of negotiations that eventually led the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Banner and Banner's insurers, despite their significant role in the proceedings and the MDL court's repeated directives.

"Insofar as …