Knauf Avoids Second Class of Homeowners Who Allege Bad Drywall

Homeowners who discovered allegedly sulfurous drywall made by Knauf Gips KG and its Chinese subsidiaries after the German company settled thousands of claims won’t be able to proceed as a class, a federal court in Louisiana ruled.

Common issues don’t predominate among the newer group because the plaintiffs are scattered over five states and bring a wide variety of claims, Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana said.

The proposed class also doesn’t meet other requirements under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b), the court said. The case doesn’t involve a limited ...