Pre Trial Conference Set for July 9, 2009 MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On May 27, 2009, the Multi District Litigation (MDL) Panel heard argument for consolidating thousands of Chinese Drywall lawsuits throughout the United States. In an order that was entered on June 15, 2009, the MDL selected the Eastern District of Louisiana Federal United States District Court. The MDL Panel selected experienced trial Judge Eldon E. Fallon to oversee the cases. A pre trial conference has been set for July 9, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Judge Fallon's courtroom, Room C-468, United States Courthouse, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. 100,000 cases from across the nation are expected to be consolidated for pretrial matters and discovery in the dry wall litigation that has impacted homeowners throughout the country. Florida is expected to have 35,000 cases filed within the next year regarding this problem. "This is the largest construction defect case in the history of the United States and consumers need help now," said Ervin A. Gonzalez, one of Florida's leading lawyers that have been representing hundreds of homeowners with dry wall problems. "By consolidating the cases, the Court will allow for the more efficient and effective handling of these claims. Ultimately it should reduce the expense involved in litigating the cases and should promote global resolutions of these claims." The Court will likely select an Executive committee for the Plaintiffs and Defendants to run the litigation on behalf of all interested parties and soon after require a joint case management plan to be submitted that outlines the parties' pleading and practice schedule as well as the proposed discovery schedule. Given that many of the Defendants are from foreign countries like China and Germany and were served under The Hague Convention requirements, the Court may attempt to simplify and streamline the service and notice requirements on the foreign corporate parties in order to keep the cost of litigation down and to speed up the process.
