Closing arguments in the Hirata vs. Sitterle case
The Hirata case has gained attention because it is the first case to go to trial since the creation of the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), an agency that has come under fire because of its failure to resolve disputes and its lack of authority to force builders to comply with its conclusions.

HOMEOWNERS for BETTER   BUILDING
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San Antonio –    The trial of active duty US Army Colonel Jay Hirata and wife retired Lieutenant Colonel Joy Hirata, a 31-year Army Veteran will be coming to an end. 

The Hirata case has gained attention because it is the first case to go to trial since the creation of the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), an agency that has come under fire because of its failure to resolve disputes and its lack of authority to force builders to comply with its conclusions.

Earlier this year a state comptrollers’ report found that families including the Hiratas, had confirmed construction defects in their homes through TRCC, yet 86% of the time builders failed to make repairs, forcing families to take costly legal action.

Despite favorable rulings for the Hiratas from the Third Party Inspector (assigned by the TRCC), and the TRCC Appellate Panel regarding multiple construction defects, Sitterle failed to make the repairs forcing the couple to file a lawsuit.

The Hirata ordeal however, is far from over.  Still to be resolved is the freedom of speech issue and defamation suit brought by the Sitterle Corporation that was filed a week before this trial began, claiming Colonel Hirata had filed a public complaint alleging that their home was defectively built, which Sitterle claims adversely affected their business.

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

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.