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Mealey's Construction Defects

  • June 14, 2018

    Home Builder Removes Class Action Suit Over Stucco, Says Damages Exceed $5M

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Centex Real Estate Co. LLC on June 11 removed a class action suit accusing the builder and contractors of improperly installing the stucco on 137 homes in an Apopka, Fla., development, arguing that the federal court has jurisdiction over the case under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) because the proposed class seeks more than $5 million in damages (Emerson Park Homeowners Association Inc., et al. v. Brett Lundequam, et al., No. 18-CV-913-ORL-37-DCI, M.D. Fla.).

  • June 13, 2018

    Couple Says Window Maker Breached Agreement When Replacing Defective Windows

    BALTIMORE— A couple sued Jeld-Wen Inc. in Maryland federal court June 11 claiming that the company breached the terms of a June 2015 settlement agreement when replacing and repairing defective windows in their home with more defective windows (Carl J. Schramm, et al. v. Jeld-Wen Inc, No. 18-cv-01716, D. Md.).

  • June 12, 2018

    Shingles’ Limited Warranty Does Not Apply To Association, Judge Finds

    ATLANTA — A federal judge in Georgia overseeing litigation over allegedly defective roofing shingles awarded summary judgment to the product’s manufacturer on June 8, finding that the shingles’ limited warranty does not apply to a condominium association because it was the third owner of the property (In re Atlas Roofing Corp. Chalet Shingle Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2495, Stratford Club Condominium Association v. Atlas Roofing Corp., No. 14cv1071, N.D. Ga., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96547).

  • June 12, 2018

    Subsequent Home Buyer Cannot Pursue Claims Against Shingle Maker Over Defects

    ATLANTA — A Kentucky man’s lawsuit against the manufacturer of Chalet-brand roofing shingles cannot pursue claims based on the company’s alleged breach of express and implied warranties for the product, a federal judge in Georgia ruled June 8, holding that the man failed to properly transfer the warranty after purchasing the home from the original owner and that the company did not waive its right to enforce the warranty (In re Atlas Roofing Corp. Chalet Shingle Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2495, Bryan Makowski, et al. v. Atlas Roofing Corp., No. 14-cv-3034, N.D. Ga., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96543).

  • June 11, 2018

    Shingle Maker Awarded Summary Judgment In Class Action Over Alleged Defect

    ATLANTA — A federal judge in Georgia on June 8 awarded summary judgment to Atlas Corp. after finding that an Ohio man was unable to show that an alleged defect in the shingles installed on his home caused a leak that required the roof to be replaced (In re Atlas Roofing Corp. Chalet Shingle Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2495, Brian David Seltzer, et al. v. Atlas Roofing Corp., No. 13cv4217, N.D. Ga., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96545).

  • June 7, 2018

    Couple Can Pursue Breach Of Contract Claim Over Shingles, Cabinets, Judge Says

    CHICAGO — A couple seeking to lead a putative class action suit against the builder of 46 homes can pursue claims for breach of contract over the defendant company’s use of 25-year shingles and wood veneer cabinets, a federal judge in Illinois ruled June 6, holding that the materials were not of the same substantial quality as those promised in purchase agreement (Paul Smith, et al. v. NVR Inc., No. 17 C 8328, N.D. Ill., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94712).

  • June 6, 2018

    Insureds, Insurer Accuse Contractor Of Faulty Work On Solar Panel System

    WILMINGTON, Del. — Homeowners and their insurer filed an amended complaint on June 1 in a Delaware trial court against a general contractor allegedly responsible for the defective installation of a solar panel system for their home (Domenic P. DiStefano, et al. v. KW Solar Solutions Inc., et al., No. N16C-11-015, Del. Super.).

  • May 31, 2018

    Magistrate Recommends Denying Remand Of Suit Seeking To Vacate Arbitration Award

    WILMINGTON, Del. — A federal judge in Delaware on May 29 recommended denying a couple’s motion to remand their lawsuit seeking to vacate or amend a $17,500 arbitration award they obtained from their home warranty provider and its insurer, finding that complete diversity exists between the parties and that the plaintiffs do not state the amount in controversy in their complaint (Jason Jones, et al. v. Home Buyers Warranty, et al., No. 17-773-JFB,SRF, D. Del., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88908).

  • May 30, 2018

    California Panel Overturns Ruling Enforcing Settlement Of Defective Windows Suit

    SAN FRANCISCO — A California trial court erred when granting a plaintiff’s motion to enforce the terms of a settlement agreement with the manufacturer of allegedly defective windows, a state appeals panel ruled May 24, holding that none of the settling parties had consented to the agreement in court or in a signed writing as required by California law (Theresa Teuma v. Marvin Lumber & Cedar Co., et al., No. A149733, Calif. App., 1st Dist., 2nd Div., 2018 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 3631).

  • May 30, 2018

    Homeowners’ Defects Claims Are Subject To Arbitration, Nevada High Court Says

    CARSON CITY, Nev.— Construction defects claims brought by 49 homeowners against the entities that developed their homes are subject to arbitration, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled May 24, holding that arbitration provisions in the sales agreements are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and conscionable under Nevada law (U.S. Home Corp., et al. La Harris, et al., No. 68025, Nev. Sup., 2018 Nev. Unpub. LEXIS 460).

  • May 29, 2018

    Nevada High Court Reinstates Association’s Negligence Claim Against Contractor

    CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Supreme Court on May 24 overturned a lower court judge’s ruling awarding summary judgment to a general contractor on a homeowners’ association’s negligence claim, holding that it is unclear if an expert’s report adequately disclosed defects in the construction of the condominium complex when it was sold by the developer to the declarant (Regent at Town Centre Homeowners’ Association v. Oxbow Construction LLC, Nos. 69777, 70296, Nev. Sup., 2018 Nev. Unpub. LEXIS 462).

  • May 25, 2018

    Association Sues Engineer, Subcontractor For Faulty Decking Installation

    TRENTON, N.J. — A condominium association on May 11 filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court accusing an engineering firm and a contractor hired to replace breezeway decking of failing to properly install the new decking material despite the engineer’s knowledge that quarter-inch sloping was needed underneath the new material to prevent water from pooling on the deck surface (Lawrence Square Village II Condominium Association v. Kipcon Inc., et al., No. MER-L-001038-18, N.J. Super., Mercer Co.).

  • May 24, 2018

    Judge: Construction Contract Contained Start Date Of Defects Claim

    DOVER, Del. — A Delaware judge on May 22 awarded summary judgment to a general contractor accused of defectively constructing a group home for adults with cerebral palsy, finding that the suit was barred by the three-year statute of limitations because the construction contract stated when any possible claims would begin to accrue (Black Diamond Hope House Inc., et al. v. U&I Investments LLC, et al., No. K15C-12-034 JJC, Del. Super., Kent Co.).

  • May 24, 2018

    Couple Accuses Contractor Of Faulty Foundation Work When Building Addition

    GEORGETOWN, Del. — A couple sued the general contractor they hired to build an addition on their Rehoboth Beach, Del., home in Delaware state court on May 22, claiming that the builder’s negligence when installing the foundation, footers and framing have caused the structure to pull away from the existing home (Dennis Runsten, et al. v. Burton Builders LLC, No. S18C-05-025, Del. Super., Sussex Co.).

  • May 23, 2018

    Window Installer Says No Evidence Links His Work To Water Intrusion

    WILMINGTON, Del. — A subcontractor who installed the windows in a man’s home says in a May 18 motion for summary judgment filed in Delaware state court that there is no evidence that his work caused water intrusion that has prevented a man from selling his home (Gary Loh v. Muirfield Associates LLC, et al., No. N16C-09-234, Del. Super., New Castle Co.).

  • May 22, 2018

    Roofing Subcontractor Can Face Gross Negligence Claims, Judge Rules

    BEAUFORT, S.C. — A federal judge in South Carolina held that a roofing subcontractor can face a general contractor’s third-party claim of gross negligence for moisture intrusion that occurred at a golf clubhouse and community clubhouse due to a lack of flashing because there is evidence that there is evidence that the subcontractor supplied roofing material and flashing (Hampton Hall LLC v. Chapman Coyle Chapman & Associates Architects AIA Inc., et al., No. 17-1575-RMG, D. S.C., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84502).

  • May 18, 2018

    Defective Shingles Caused Leaks, Kitchen Damage, Couple Complains

    CLEVELAND — An Ohio couple filed a lawsuit in state court on May 16 against the maker of shingles that were installed on their home, claiming that they were defective because they allowed the roof to leak, causing damage to their kitchen (Blanche Forman, et al. v. IKO Industries Inc., No. CV 18 897861, Ohio Comm. Pls., Cuyahoga Co.).

  • May 17, 2018

    Association Cannot Pursue Defects Claims Against Subcontractors, Judge Says

    HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut judge on April 20 dismissed a homeowners association’s claims against four subcontractors accused of construction defects, finding that it lacked standing because the subcontractors were not provided with proper presuit notification (Sherwood Falls Homeowners Association Inc. v. CIL Development of Kensington Inc., et al., No. X07HHDCV166086133S, Conn. Super., Hartford Dist., 2018 Conn. Super. LEXIS 805).

  • May 17, 2018

    Plaintiffs Voluntarily Dismiss Appeal Over Dismissal Of Dimensional Lumber Suit

    CHICAGO — Two men who claimed that a federal judge in Illinois erred when dismissing their class action lawsuit accusing Menard Inc. of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (ICFA) by selling lumber with deceptive labels about the product’s dimensions dismissed their appeal in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on May 7 (Michael Fuchs, et al. v. Menard Inc., No. 17-3260, 7th Cir.).

  • May 16, 2018

    Washington Appeals Court Panel Finds Association’s Defects Suit Timely

    SEATTLE — A trial court judge’s ruling awarding summary judgment to a developer’s successor based on the statute of limitations was reversed May 14 by a Washington appeals panel that found that a condominium association’s lawsuit under the Washington Condominium Act (WCA) was filed within the four-year statute of limitations because the declarant controlled the association until 2014 (Burien Town Square Condominium Association v. Burien Town Square Parcel 1 LLC, et al., No. 76502-7-I, Wash. App., 1st Div., 2018 Wash. App. LEXIS 1137).