Five Virginians Sue over Chinese Drywall

Five Hampton Roads homeowners are seeking more than $5 million in a lawsuit filed against a local developer, a distributor and a Chinese drywall manufacturer.

The homeowners claim the companies were negligent for selling the drywall and not warning customers that it was defective. They are seeking class-action status for the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.

Attorney Richard Serpe says his clients are upset that the drywall has made their homes unfit to live in. People in several states have complained that it emits a corrosive gas that damages electrical systems and causes respiratory illness.

An attorney for Norfolk-based Venture Supply would not comment on the suit. The company has said it imported enough of the drywall to build more than 300 homes.

Information from: The Virginian-Pilot