Florida Jury Gets Chinese Drywall Case

A jury in Florida is set to begin deliberations in a lawsuit over the damages owed to owners of a house built with defective Chinese drywall.

Attorneys say the verdict in the case of Armin and Lisa Seifart of Miami will set a standard for similar trials in Florida and elsewhere. Jurors were expected to begin deliberations Thursday after closing arguments.

The case pits the Seifarts against Banner Supply. The company admits the Chinese drywall was defective but objects to paying more in damages than the Seifarts spent in renovations and rental costs.

Chinese drywall has been linked to possible health problems along with corrosion of wiring, computers, doorknobs and jewelry. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed nationwide over the problem.