Source: https://www.lexislegalnews.com/mealeys-construction-defects
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 06:19:18+00:00

Document:
HACKENSACK, N.J. — A New Jersey couple filed suit in state court on April 4, seeking to vacate an arbitration award in favor of their home builder on the ground that the proceeding violated the New Jersey Uniform Arbitration Act because the arbitrator was partial to the builder and had conversations during the proceeding with the builder’s representative that were outside their earshot (Bethany Hills, et al. v. Hudson 661 LLC, et al., No. BER-L-002622-19, N.J. Super., Bergen Co.).
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Supreme Court on April 12 reinstated a subcontractor’s suit accusing a general contractor of fraud and misrepresentation as part of the construction of a restaurant in Hawaii, finding that a settlement agreement entered into between the parties superseded the parties’ subcontract, which included a dispute resolution clause that required mediation (SMJ General Construction LLC v. Jet Commercial Construction LLC, Nos. S-16785, S-16985, Ala. Sup., 2019 Alas. LEXIS 50).
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A California appeals panel on April 4 affirmed a ruling denying a plaintiff company’s motion to amend an arbitration award to add two companies as judgment debtors, holding that the judge properly found that there was not enough evidence to show that the companies were corporate successors to a construction company accused of defective work (Shered Holiday LLC v. American Construction Corp., No. E069095, Calif. App., 4th Dist., 2nd Div., 2019 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2364).
LAS VEGAS — A federal judge in Nevada on April 2 approved D.R. Horton Inc.’s settlements with three subcontractors who provided supplies and services to a development that is allegedly plagued by construction defects, finding that the agreements were reached in good faith (Azure Manor/Rancho De Paz Homeowners Association v. D.R. Horton Inc., No. 14-cv-02222-JCM-NJK, D. Nev.; 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56418).
NEW ORLEANS — The federal judge in Louisiana overseeing litigation over allegedly defective drywall manufactured in China on March 6 denied in part a motion to dismiss filed by manufacturers after finding that the plaintiffs’ claims were timely due to the application of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in American Pipe & Construction Co. v. Utah, 414 U.S. 538 (1974), or under their state’s discovery rule (In re: Chinese Manufacture Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2047, Case No. 09md2047, E.D. La.; 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36083).
HARRISBURG, Pa. — New legislation was introduced to Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives’ Committee on Consumer Affairs on March 25 that is designed to protect consumers who enter into construction contracts for new homes by requiring builders to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection every two years and provide written notification to homeowners about defective materials within three months up to 30 years after completion of the construction.
WILMINGTON, Del. — According to a March 8 docket entry in Delaware state court, a couple leading a proposed class of 63 townhome owners suing a developer and other third parties over construction defects that resulted in water infiltration and damage to laminate veneer lumber (LVL) that is holding the second- and third-floor terraces on the buildings have agreed to settle the action (Jason Jones, et al. v. BPG Residential Partners IV LLC, et al., No. N15C-10-131 WCC, Del. Super., New Castle Co.).
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Virginia couple sued a general contractor in state court on March 20, alleging that the defendant failed to complete a three-story addition to their home and that the work done was defective (Archie Attarian, et al. v. Old Dominion Custom Homes LLC, No. CLI19000930-00, Va. Cir., Arlington Co.).
SAN DIEGO — A California appeals panel on March 29 affirmed a trial court judge’s ruling that a window and sliding door subcontractor was not a prevailing party in a countersuit brought by D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Co. Inc. seeking indemnification and defense of a construction defects suit, finding that the subcontractor did not timely raise an affirmative defense under California Civil Code Section 1717(b)(2) or properly tender an amount of costs to the court (D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Co. Inc. v. Milgard Manufacturing Inc., No. D074889, Calif. App., 4th Dist., 1st Div., 2019 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2266).
LAKE CHARLES, La. — A federal judge in Louisiana on March 27 ruled that while Lowe’s Home Centers LLC was entitled to summary judgment on a couple’s tort claim arising from the allegedly defective installation of the roof on their home because the cause of action was prescribed by the state’s one-year limitations period, the couple’s complaint supports a claim for breach of contract against the retailer (Elmo Green, et al. v. Lowe’s Home Centers LLC, No. 16-cv-0698, W.D. La., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53363).
RICHMOND, Texas — A contractor accused of defective workmanship on a woman’s home says in a March 25 brief filed in Texas state court that the plaintiff’s choice of venue cannot be disturbed because she did not file an affidavit in support of her motion to transfer the action to a different court and because the parties have already filed motions (Erica Lemon v. James Brazelton, No. 18-DCV-254286, Texas Dist., Fort Bend Co.).
GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge in Maryland on March 20 denied a developer’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing it of violating the Maryland Consumer Protection Act by failing to inform unit owners that a condominium complex was built without weather-resistant barriers, finding that the association’s claims are not barred by the state’s 10-year statute of repose limit (Council of Unit Owners of Milestone Townhouse Condominiums v. Beazer Homes LLC, No. GJH-18-1572, D. Md., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45914).
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A trial court judge in California erred when denying a portion of a combined motion filed by homeowners seeking to compel either judicial reference or arbitration of their construction defects claims against the builder of their homes, a state appeals court panel ruled March 18, finding that the conditions, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs) between the builder and the homeowners call for arbitration (Theresa Baldwin, et al. v. Woodside 05S L.P., et al., No. E068267, Calif. App., 4th Dist., 2nd Div., 2019 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1804).
CHICAGO — An Illinois appeals panel on March 15 dismissed two appeals brought by the developer and general contractor of a condominium building over a judge’s denial of a motion to dismiss and compel arbitration of a construction defects lawsuit, holding that it did not have jurisdiction over the case because the defendants did not seek appeal of the ruling within 30 days (Library Tower Condominium Association v. Library Tower LLC, et al., Nos. 1-18-1035, 1-18-1049, Ill. App., 1st Dist., 6th Div., 2019 Ill. App. Unpub. LEXIS 433).
JACKSON, Tenn. — A Tennessee appeals court panel on March 13 ordered a trial court judge to reduce a $118,926.12 award of damages issued to a man who sued a contractor over a defectively installed roof, holding that amounts for remediation from two companies were duplicative and the cost of replacing the man’s hardwood flooring was unnecessary (Patrick Durkin v. MTown Construction LLC, No. W2018-0953-COA-R3-CV, Tenn. App., 2019 Tenn. App. LEXIS 127).

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