NEW ORLEANS – An expert in building diagnostics at Buric testified in a
lawsuit heard in U.S. District Court in New Orleans about the potential dangers
of Chinese drywall. 

Ron E.
Wright, P.E., chief operating officer for Buric, testified in a case in which several
Virginia homeowners are seeking more than $2.5 million for damages they claim
were caused by poorly manufactured and corrosive Chinese drywall. 

U.S.
District Judge Eldon Fallon is expected to rule on the plaintiffs’ bid for
judgment sometime in the next few weeks. His decision could influence how homeowners
throughout the United States seek recovery for similar damages in the future. 

The
defendant in the lawsuit, Taishan Gypsum Co., did not respond to the lawsuit
and did not have attorneys present at the two-day hearing. 

In his
testimony, Wright summarized the problems caused by defective drywall and what remediation
was required to address them. He also presented costs for construction
activities necessary to properly repair the homeowners’ residences. 

A construction-industry
veteran with 30 years of experience, Wright is an expert in building
diagnostics. Wright analyzes why buildings don’t perform as expected, determines
what construction or design deficiencies contributed to the failure of building
components and systems or their intended use, the damages that have occurred,
and the remedies necessary to correct and repair them. In addition to defining
building problems and the remedies, Buric often manages necessary repairs.

Last May, scientists with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that sulfur, strontium and
iron were present in samples of Chinese drywall. The tests were spurred by
complaints from homeowners living in 10 states and the District of Columbia. In
samples tested of drywall manufactured in the United States, EPA scientists
detected no elemental sulfur, and determined that levels of strontium and iron
were significantly less than what was found in Chinese drywall. 

The
EPA has received hundreds of formal complaints from citizens alleging that
Chinese drywall leeched noxious substances that caused illness and corroded
metals inside walls and appliances.

Before
2005, drywall imports from China hardly existed. But after hurricanes pummeled
the southeastern United States in 2004 and 2005, contractors rebuilding damaged
offices and homes exhausted the supply of domestically produced drywall and
looked to China to fill the gap.

Since
2006, the United States has imported more than 550 million pounds of
Chinese-manufactured drywall for use in some 60,000 homes in a dozen states.

Buric is the
premier consultant to the world’s diverse construction industry. The firm’s
work allows clients to successfully complete jobs while minimizing their risks
and costs.

Established
in 1968, Buric provides construction planning and critical path method
scheduling; construction claims resolution, including forensic investigation,
demonstrative graphics and expert witness capability; surety contract
management; building diagnostics and rehabilitation; project management and
control; and architectural and engineering services.

Even more
importantly, it is the manner in which Buric provides these services that sets
the firm apart. Buric employees are knowledgeable and accomplished industry
experts – the best in their fields – who take pride in providing accurate,
thorough and responsive service while maintaining the highest standards of
ethics and professionalism. To learn more, visit www.buric.com.