NU Online News Service, Feb. 22, 2:21 p.m. EST

More than 100 homeowners in Louisiana affected by Chinese drywall manufactured by Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin will soon see some relief as part of a court-approved remediation program.

According to Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell, 109 homeowners located primarily in the parishes of St. Tammany, Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Orleans are included in the pilot program.

Last October, Knauf agreed to a $30 million to $60 million remediation program that would include the complete tear-out and replacement of drywall in up to 300 homes in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida at no cost to homeowners.

Knauf has been the defendant in many lawsuits involving the building material. The Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation and Judge Eldon E. Fallon in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans said the program is the first step in establishing a global remediation program. The pilot program will be funded by Knauf, builders, drywall suppliers and their insurers—including QBE Insurance Group and State Farm.

The attorney general filed lawsuit against Knauf on behalf of the state and others who manufactured, distributed, sold, and installed defective and toxic drywall in Louisiana during the rebuilding efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Mr. Caldwell said work has begun in Florida and will begin soon in Louisiana. He said his and other state agencies will monitor implementation of the pilot program to ensure that all demolition, remediation, and restoration are conducted in accordance with state law.

Last year Louisiana passed a law prohibiting insurance companies from dropping coverage of homeowners with Chinese drywall.