SITTERLE HOMES FILES FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT AGAINST ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER STUCK WITH DEFECTIVE HOME
In this unprecedented move of revenge, Sitterle’s has done the unthinkable by filing a suit to oppress the free speech of a US Army Colonel who continues to serve his country, which creates a scandal that even the building industry must find outrageous. According to the Colonel in a written statement, this experience with the TRCC and the Sitterle Corporation has been more stressful than his combat tours in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Pakistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) combined.

HOMEOWNERS FOR BETTER BUILDING
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 — PRESS RELEASE —
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:  Janet Ahmad
 
 Press Conference
 Thursday, September 21, 2005 at 5:30 PM
City Council Chambers Side Entrance

Local Homebuilder Attempts to Deprive US Army Colonel of Constitutional Rights

SITTERLE HOMES FILES FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT AGAINST ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER STUCK WITH DEFECTIVE HOME

                San Antonio –  HomeOwners for Better Building (HOBB) and citizens will gather for a press conference regarding the issues of inadequate City of San Antonio new home inspections and support of active duty US Army Colonel Jay Hirata and wife, retired Lieutenant Colonel Joy Hirata, a 31-year Army Veteran.

Colonel Hirata and Joy had planned to speak to the Mayor and City Council members to express their concerns for careless building practices in San Antonio and inadequate city inspections. However, this past Monday the homebuilder, Sitterle Corporation, unexpectedly filed a defamation suit against Colonel Hirata for filing a complaint about their defective home. 

In light of the recent lawsuit and advice of their attorney, the Hiratas will not be making an appearance.

After two years of amassing thousands of dollars in legal fees, the Hiratas obtained favorable rulings from the TRCC, Third Party Inspector (assigned by the TRCC), and the Appellate Panel regarding multiple construction defects.  However, Sitterle failed to make the repairs and the couple is scheduled for trial Monday, September 25, 2006, on the merits of their case filed against Sitterle Homes for their 2-year-old defective home.

During these difficult times, the couple has been apart 15 months due to the on-going litigations and inability to sell their home.  Colonel Hirata was transferred to a NATO assignment in Spain while his wife was forced to remain behind and handle the demanding legal matters.

Recently, Colonel Hirata expressed his frustrations publicly regarding their ordeal and of dealing with the much-criticized TRCC system, and its inability to force the Sitterle Corporation to remedy the construction defects with their home as outlined by the TRCC.

The couple corresponded with local, state, and congressional leaders, and with local military installations within San Antonio and consumer organizations, and posted a complaint on the HOBB.org website expressing frustration over the inability to hold their builder accountable.

In this unprecedented move of revenge, Sitterle’s has done the unthinkable by filing a suit to oppress the free speech of a US Army Colonel who continues to serve his country, which creates a scandal that even the building industry must find outrageous.

According to the Colonel in a written statement, this experience with the TRCC and the Sitterle Corporation has been more stressful than his combat tours in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Pakistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) combined. 

This family has endured an unnecessary separation, financial hardship and stress which was preventable.  They should be enjoying their lives together, but instead have suffered through the TRCC process and litigation, and now face another war on the home front, to defend the right of free speech in what is seen as a frivolous lawsuit designed to intimidate.