Imagine spending most of your life savings to buy your dream house. It's a pretty picture. But what if that dreamhouse turns into a nightmare. That is exactly the scenario being played out right now.
The culprit - drywall made in China. The imported drywall gives off a noxious smell and toxic gases that many homeowners in the Birmingham metro area say are driving them from their homes.
Jim and Carol Howard moved into their home in January 2009. The problems started almost immediately. First it was tarnished silver. But then it got serious. Jim Howard says he had a clean bill of health before he moved in. Now, he's been diagnosed with heart arrythmia. A problem he blames on the drywall.
Carol Howard hasn't fared much better. She now has asthma issues and is prescribed antibiotics and skin creams to treat bacterial infections.
But the Howard's are by no means alone. Attorney Eric Hoaglund and his firm represents about 100 local homeowners who are in the same boat. Hoaglund says the toxic drywall was first imported in during 2006. He says it was in response to high demand in response to the heavy hurricane season in 2005.
The Howard's say they're coming forward with their story, hoping to bring the Chinese drywall more publicity so that more will be done about fixing it.
