Yesterday, I attended the status conference on Chinese Drywall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The parties agreed, and the Court directed, that an inspection protocol be established and that 25-30 inspections to occur over the next 30 days. After these initial inspections, the parties and the Court will review the protocol and expand the number and scope of the inspections. The parties are currently working on a profile form that, once approved by the Court, we will have 15 days to respond to the profile.
The Court also directed all parties to identify potential bellwether cases with 5 trials to occur early next year. Bellwether cases are actual trials of a small number of cases selected out of all of the pending cases to offer a picture of what a jury may decide in subsequent cases. It is very clear that the Court wants these cases moving.
The next status conference is scheduled for September 3, 2009 at 9:00 am in New Orleans. We will continue to update you as new issues develop.
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