On April 26, 2001 an 18-wheeler ran off of I-30 and crashed into our home when its driver had a heart attack. We had lived in our new home for only one day when the accident occurred, which rendered it uninhabitable. The truck driver's insurance refused to pay for the repairs to our home claiming that the driver's heart attack was an act of God, and therefore, not covered.

Link: http://www.texaswatch.org/hallofshame_share_consumerlaw_story.asp?insurid=135

Deficient building practices cited in high home insurance rates
In May, Richardson, who has filed a lawsuit against the builder, testified in front of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Business and Industry and has also testified for the Civil Services Committee. "I've talked to so many home owners and it's simply a really pervasive problem," she said. "We had pieces of wood in the homes that were put in moldy during the construction process." An uneducated work force, a premium placed on affordability, and a lack of statewide regulation are some of the factors officials cite in home problems that lead to increased insurance claims. "We need to build affordable housing, but the ramifications of affordability are costing us tons of money as a society in terms of insurance premiums, maintenance costs, water penetration costs, and lawsuits," said the national program manager of a Collin County building supplies company who spoke under the condition of anonymity. "Water penetration is caused by a dysfunctional process that uses poor quality materials and often has design flaws."

Deficient building practices cited in high home insurance rates
Dawn and Scott Richardson received an unwanted glimpse into the homebuilding and insurance industries after being forced out of their $300,000 Austin-area home last year. Just five weeks after construction in 2001, Richardson said the home had become so contaminated with toxic mold and chemicals that she and her baby daughter began suffering health problems that included nausea, neurological problems, and allergic reactions... And as a pitched political battle continues over how to remedy soaring statewide home owner's insurance rates, some building officials and consumer activists have begun to echo Richardson's sentiment, pointing to deficient construction practices as a significant factor in insurance rates that have doubled and in some cases tripled in the past year.

You may have unknowingly waived your constitutional right to a trial by jury when you purchased you new home, used your credit card or made a long-distance phone call. Today, mandatory arbitration agreements are found in almost all consumer contracts, and they are successfully being used by big corporations to block access to courts by consumers who have been treated unfairly. Go to www.texaswatch.org to learn more about arbitration and its pitfalls for consumers.

You may have unknowingly waived your constitutional right to a trial by jury when you purchased you new home, used your credit card or made a long-distance phone call. Today, mandatory arbitration agreements are found in almost all consumer contracts, and they are successfully being used by big corporations to block access to courts by consumers who have been treated unfairly. Go to www.texaswatch.org to learn more about arbitration and its pitfalls for consumers.

By Adolfo Pesquera Express-News Business Writer. Consumers also have complaints about the high cost of an arbitration. Arbitration cases where damage claims exceed $75,000 typically cost consumers $6,000 to $20,000 more than trying the same case in court, say spokesmen for Public Citizen and the Association for American Retired Persons.

Link: http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=110&xlc=774590&xld=110

By Adolfo Pesquera Express-News Business Writer. Consumers also have complaints about the high cost of an arbitration. Arbitration cases where damage claims exceed $75,000 typically cost consumers $6,000 to $20,000 more than trying the same case in court, say spokesmen for Public Citizen and the Association for American Retired Persons.

Link: http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=110&xlc=774590&xld=110

Critics say new rule favors contractors; builders contend it will make complaint process more efficient 
A new law, signed by Gov. John Engler on July 31, makes it mandatory for consumers to go to arbitration if the builder seeks negotiations and provides a third party to conduct them. Previously, the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services handled all consumer complaints by holding formal hearings.