Attorney General Seeking $500,000 From Old Saybrook Home Builder
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is suing modular home builder Bowden Development and company owner Lloyd L. Bowden of Old Saybrook over the alleged shoddy construction of "uninhabitable and unsafe" homes sold between 2004 and 2006. Blumenthal said he is seeking $500,000 in reimbursements for homeowners who had to correct problems with homes built by Bowden."The failings included cracked walls, unsecure foundations, water damage, cut corners, missed deadlines, and often additional unauthorized charges and abandoned construction, particularly when consumers complained," Blumenthal said.

Attorney General Seeking $500,000 From Old Saybrook Home Builder
By CHARLES STANNARD | Courant Staff Writer
July 24, 2008
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is suing modular home builder Bowden Development and company owner Lloyd L. Bowden of Old Saybrook over the alleged shoddy construction of "uninhabitable and unsafe" homes sold between 2004 and 2006.

Blumenthal said he is seeking $500,000 in reimbursements for homeowners who had to correct problems with homes built by Bowden.

"The failings included cracked walls, unsecure foundations, water damage, cut corners, missed deadlines, and often additional unauthorized charges and abandoned construction, particularly when consumers complained," Blumenthal said.

The suit alleges Bowden and his company "failed to bolt modular home pieces together and to foundations, failed to install required roof and other supports and committed numerous other serious construction flaws, leaving the houses structurally unsound and unsafe." The suit alleges that Bowden later refused to do any work or communicate with the homeowners who complained about the problems.

Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. said the five home buyers who filed complaints against Bowden spent about $500,000 to correct problems with their modular homes. The DCP two weeks ago suspended hearings on the complaints and referred the case for legal action. Bowden's company is no longer in business.

Complaints were filed by residents of Chester, Clinton, Haddam and Killingworth.

"These homes literally could have collapsed in on the occupants, severely injuring or killing people," Farrell said. "We are bringing this lawsuit because of the reckless behavior involved and to make the consumers affected as whole as possible."

David Doyle, a North Branford lawyer representing Bowden, said Wednesday he is "disappointed that they decided to file a suit without contacting us first." Doyle said many of the complaints from the homeowners lack verification from a construction professional.

"We believe these allegations will be hard to prove and we look forward to our day in court," he said.

But Jody Hawes, of Killingworth, one of the homeowners who filed the initial complaints with the DCP, said she hopes Blumenthal's action will bring some relief from the problems with the modular home she purchased from Bowden nearly four years ago.

"The facts stand for themselves, and with the number of people that have had the same experience, it's going to be very difficult to deny," she said.

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