Dec 13 1999
Added to Builders in the News: Lawsuits
filed, homeowners wait Inspection process failed to help By CRIS BARRISH
Staff reporter 12/12/99 On a frigid day in January 1998, Jesse and Luise
Giambrone entered their new house in Lea Eara Farms in Summit to conduct
a "walk-through,'' checking for defects before settlement. [Multiple Builders,
Inspectors]
Dec 11 1999
Consumer
Group Helps Citizen Control Legal Pest California Homeowner Battles Terminix
Over Web Site WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A homeowner who lost thousands of
dollars because of a home inspection she found shoddy has a First Amendment
right to post her story -- and the complaints of other homeowners -- on
the World Wide Web, Public Citizen
said in court
documents filed this week.
Dec 6 1999Masonite
Siding Fails on Many FB Homes Activist's Website Helps Homeowners
Make Claims. Fort Bend Star.
Thousands of homes in the Houston area have Masonite hardboard siding that
takes on water, swells, molds and falls apart. Many a Fort Bend homeowner
knows this but what they may not know is "there's been a settlement
on the table for two years now. If you know about it and if you apply
for it...," said John Cobarruvias.
Dec 5, 1999:MOLD:
A Health Alert. USA Weekend. Included in this report:
Stachybotrys atra
How common are these molds
Why new homes are moldier
How to protect your home from unhealthful molds
Dec 5, 1999: Added
to Builders in the News: Illegal
labor fuels hot Austin economy Story by Dave Harmon American-Statesman
Staff "At the Texas Capitol Area Builders Association, which has 300 home
builders among its 750 Central Texas members, Executive Vice President
Harry Savio said the builders ``recognize that a large percentage of the
guys doing the work are immigrants.'' "
Dec 5, 1999: Added
to Builders in the News: Proposal
for more work visas gaining ground with INS critic By Dave Harmon American-Statesman
Staff. But the only idea that seems to be gaining momentum is an expanded
guest worker program, which would let employers hire foreign workers through
a temporary visa. "There's a lot of talk about that, and I think we need
to look at something like that very seriously," said U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla,
R-San Antonio. "I think we've got to figure out a way to deal with hat
demand for labor."
Dec 3, 1999: Added
to Builders in the News: Homeowner
Disgust: Mad as Hell and Not Going to Take it Any More Reality Times.
"What does a group of angry homeowners do when they feel they have
received shoddily built homes for their lifetime investments? Do they picket
the builders' sales offices? Take their impassioned pleas to the press?
Sue the builder for repairs and damages? Sometime they do, and sometimes
they do even more. "
Dec 1, 1999: Added
to Builders in the News: Builder
News with tidbits such as "Ryland Reports 3Q Gains; Moving HQ to Southern
CA" (Conejo Valley in Southern California)
Nov 23, 1999:
Added and article about Centex Homes in San Antonio, TX to Builders
in the News: "Court
gives win to home buyers". The
San Antonio Express News
Nov 17, 1999
Added
the following to Homeowners Websites: Ocean
Ranch. Another Shea Homes Site. Just so you know that you are in good
company... I am 7 years ahead of you, here is what I started with... and
ended with! I hope it puts your situation into a better light (or
perhaps not). This company just keeps on doing it to buyers, over
and over and over - again.
Nov 16, 1999:Added
multiple articles to Builders in the News:
SPECIAL
REPORT: It could happen here. Although Hurricane Andrew exposed
the vulnerability of gable roofs, many homes outside South Florida still
don't meet wind-load standards. By COLLINS CONNER St. Petersburg Times,
published June 27, 1999. (Homebuilders referenced: Ryland Homes, US
Homes, Lennar, Holiday Builders, Hoyt Homes, Winward Homes, Pulte Homes,
Richard Van Orden Homes, Cozy Homes Inc. , Mitch Underwood Homes.)
Including sidbars or:
The
Long Lonely Fight
Insurance
companies will still pay
Repairs
can cost thousands
What
you can do about your own house
The Experts
How
the Times study was done
Letter
from Lennar Homes
Summary
of engineer, builder responses.
Nov 16, 1999
Added
an article about Centex Homes to Builders in the News:
Angry
Fawn Ridge homeowners picket builder By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH St. Petersburg
Times, published July 10, 1998. CITRUS PARK -- Hell
hath no fury like a home buyer who's mad at his builder. A group
of Fawn Ridge residents and supporters who feel they were knowingly misled
by Dallas-based home builder Centex Homes are on a picket campaign targeting
different Centex developments each week.
Nov 12, 1999
Call
for Volunteers! HomeOwners for Better Building is expanding! We are looking
for representatives interested in assisting homeowners and being a focal
point for their area. Please see our Join HOBB
page for more info.
Nov 11, 1999
Added
an article about Pulte Homes to Builders in the News:
OSHA
Region 5 - For Release Tuesday, June 15, 1999 U.S. Labor Department
Fines Pulte Homes $37,750 For Child Labor and Federal Workplace Safety
Violations Following Injury Of Thirteen-Year-Old At Twinsburg, OH, Construction
Site.
Nov 11, 1999
Added
MORE Corona City minutes to Builders in the
News: about Corona California and Ryland
Homes.
Nov 9, 1999
Added
a number of articles and city minutes to Builders
in the News: about Corona California and
Ryland Homes.
Nov 5, 1999
Added
the following to Homeowners Websites:
FRIENDS
DON'T LET FRIENDS BUY SHEA HOMES! BEWARE! Avoid the Nightmare!
Avoid years of litigation and unnecessary expenses! Learn the facts before
you buy a house built by SHEA HOMES ; including homes in Northern California
and Southern California, with Developments in San Francisco, Los Angeles
County, Orange County and San Diego County like the following developments:.......
Nov 2, 1999 Added
the following to Homeowners Websites:
The
K&B Files. Judge for yourself how Kaufman & Broad Builders
relate to their customers (homeowners) and their neighbors. These links
were found on the WWW using search terms such as "kaufman and broad", "problems
kaufman and broad" and the like. In part, they demonstrate that the issues
at Oak Park Trails are not unique, but a recurring theme. We are not alone.
Nov 2, 1999 Added
the following to Homeowners Websites:
Kaufman
and Broad Homes Suck . A Real Homeowners Point Of View Kaufman and
Broad builds new homes. Homes should be built on a solid foundation and
not on a companies reputation. Shoddy homes or shoddy buildings are not
what you expect from one of the top ten builders.
Nov 2, 1999 Added
the following to Homeowners Websites:
Kaufman
and Broad Quality Is Only Lip Service. The big leaders are setting
the trend in construction. What are the big leaders doing to get so rich
so quickly? If our home is a representative sample of what
the construction industry is up to then the real
impact on our economy will not be felt for the next thirty years.
Nov 2, 1999 Added
the following to Homeowners Websites:
My
Experiences with Kaufman and Broad. 100% Satisfaction. That's
the goal of the Director of Customer Service of the Inland Empire for Kaufman
and Broad. Let me tell you a bit about the experiences of the new
homeowners in the tract where I recently purchased. To date,
one or more of the homeowners have experienced the following.
Oct 31, 1999 Added a link to Homeowners
Websites on a DR Horton homeowners site The
Williams Residence For Sale Built by D.R.Horton Located at Montana
Estates Henderson, Nevada 2499 Sedona Cedar Ave. Henderson,
Nv. 89052 The Cracked Driveway is the first charming detail to welcome
you to this beautiful home. The Professionally designed Drainage for this
yard goes under your driveway without ANY support at all. AMAZING
isn't it!!!
Oct 26, 1999 Added
The
Spencer Class Action links to the Construction
Defects page which covers homes that were plumbed inside using polybutylene
plumbing systems with polybutylene pipe connected with acetal plastic insert
fittings.
Oct 12, 1999: Added Polybutylene
Plumbing links to the Construction Defects
page.
Oct 10, 1999: Added Stucco links
to the Construction Defects page.
June
17, 1999 Fraud inquiry dropped Case focused on home builder
By Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writer. A state licensing agency
yesterday abandoned fraud charges against a leader of Florida's home-building
industry, saying it lacked evidence to support far-reaching accusations
of shoddy construction.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation also
has agreed to dismiss three other cases against Edwin Henry, president
of the 14,000-member Florida Home Builders Association. (See
a customers website about Henry Homes.)
May 16, 1999Senator's
new roof prompted inquiry
TALLAHASSEE - A state investigator says Sen. W. D. Childers contacted
regulators about a pending fraud case. A North Florida roofing company
owner says in a deposition obtained by The Tampa Tribune that she provided
a new roof for a state senator but was paid by a company owned by Edwin
Henry, head of the state home builders' association.
Brenda Hillyer, owner of the now-defunct Gulf Coast Roofing company,
said she was paid about $3,000 in 1993 by Henry Company Homes Inc. after
she re-roofed a house owned by Sen. W. D. Childers, R-Pensacola.
May 15, 1999
Builder fought state regulations
By MARGARET TALEV of The Tampa Tribune. TALLAHASSEE - If Edwin Henry's
fight has changed how the state regulates builders, that's good, his lawyer
says. Edwin Henry, the Pensacola builder who found himself at the center
of a controversial investigation into complaints of shoddy construction,
made it his cause to force restraint on what he sees as unfair and excessive
state regulation of home builders.
February
21, 1999 Builders battle on 2 fronts Panhandle firm accused of shoddy work
By Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writer. The political leader of
Florida's vast home-building industry has become the target of one of the
largest state investigations in years into charges of shoddy construction.
The two-year examination of houses built by Edwin Henry, president of
the 14,000-member Florida Home Builders Association, has been punctuated
by defamation lawsuits, a separate criminal investigation, and accusations
that people on all sides of the case were lying, reckless and incompetent.
(See
a customers website about Henry Homes.)
Oct 07, 1999:
Inspection
building Inspections. Looking the other way -- Web posted 7/26/98
In every kind of neighborhood, in fancy houses and tiny condos, homeowners
are losing money because a city agency that was supposed to protect
them from poor construction failed to do its job by looking the other way.
(A special by Jacksonville.com)
Oct 07, 1999:
Looking
the other way By John Dunbar and Steve Patterson Times-Union staff
writers. Story last updated at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 1998 Charlotte
Isaac is afraid her home is a ticking time bomb. When the $87,000 house
was built two years ago, it failed every structural inspection required
by law. Everything flunked - the concrete slab under the house, the
wood framing holding it together, the insulation wrapped around it.
Oct 07, 1999:
City
fails homeowners Home inspectors missing 40% Story
last updated at 11:26 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 1998 By John Dunbar and
Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writers. At least four out of 10 homes
built recently in Jacksonville have not been fully inspected by city officials
responsible for assuring proper construction, an analysis of records by
the Times-Union shows.
Oct 07, 1999:
Building
inspector retires Leaves same day review begins By John
Dunbar and Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writers Story last updated
at 11:16 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 1998 Claude Bagwell, Jacksonville's
chief building and zoning inspector under four mayors, retired unexpectedly
yesterday after 28 years of service to the city.
Sept 30, 1999: Stripped
of legal rights by Richard Coe 10-19-1998 Criminals
get a right to trial by jury. But if you buy a car, sign a mortgage,
buy health insurance or get an exterminator contract, you probably donmt
get that same right.
Sept 28, 1999: Consummate
Consumer On the Hill, Going Nowhere By Don Oldenburg Washington
Post Staff Writer Wednesday, September 29, 1999. But some consumer advocates
want to rally around this proposal to prohibit "waive your right to sue"
clauses that increasingly are inserted, stealth-like, into everyday marketplace
transactions, from purchase agreements to service contracts.
Sept 28, 1999: Arbitration
is replacing lawsuits Clauses protect many businesses from court
fights By Joel Campbell Deseret News associate business editor. Consumers
with disputes with everyone from their employer to their auto insurer may
find it increasingly difficult to settle their differences in court.
Sept 28, 1999: Blackstone
VS Pulte Homes. See what binding arbitration did this this homeowner.
Sept 25, 1999: Building
Inspection Woes Helpful Links to Online
Resources. SAN ANTONIO Thursday, September 23,1999 - 05:51
PM ET (KENS) After an Eyewitness Wants to Know investigation
of the building inspection system in San Antonio, the city has promised
changes to assure all new homes get all inspections required by law. For
now though, the city admits some new homes aren't fully inspected. How
do you protect yourself?
Sept 23, 1999: Hog
Wild. Joining the race to replace Pete Frusetta in the 28th
Assembly District is a man who could make the Cowboy in the Capitol
look, well, normal. J.J. Vogel, the whistleblower in the Hollister
housing scandal who lists his party affiliation as a staunch "declined
to state," says he's driving his Harley into the ring.
Sept 23, 1999: South
Valley homeowners sue Developers say many problems exaggerated.
BY JULIA PRODIS SULEK Mercury News Staff Writer. Mold grows in windows.
Cracks in stucco spread like spider webs. Tiny volcanoes erupt in
concrete slabs. And when doors slam, walls shake. These are not ancient,
abandoned buildings. These are at least 300 of Hollister's new homes.
Sept 23, 1999: Building
Code Red The Hollister building boom means they're
slapping houses together faster than hotcakes. As the affordable dream
homes fall apart, a growth-intoxicated, small-town government and
media try to wish the problem away. By Michael Learmonth
Sept 22, 1999: Apartment
owners sue Masonite over siding The Portland-area plaintiffs claim
OmniWood siding fell apart; the manufacturer says the assertions are overblown
Tuesday, September 21, 1999By Steve Mayes of The Oregonian staff
Sept 22, 1999: Builder
of homes targeted in suits Hollister residents cite alleged defects BY
LARRY SLONAKER Mercury News Staff Writer Published Friday, September 17,
1999, in the San Jose Mercury News. As the target of yet more litigation
filed against builders by disgruntled home buyers in Hollister, building
giant Kaufman and Broad Home Corp. says the residents first should have
asked for repairs under their warranty.
Sept 20, 1999: Card
customers being pressed to give up their right to sue By
Pat Curry Is using plastic money worth giving up your right to sue
your credit card issuer if you have a dispute with them? "Linda Sherry,
editorial director for Consumer
Action, a national consumer advocacy group, says that while her organization
supports alternative dispute resolution as helpful and less costly than
litigation, they are "totally opposed" to binding arbitration."
Sept 19, 1999: Homeowners for Better Building
will be feature on KENS TV, CH5, San
Antonio Texas in a 4 part series beginning the week of
Sept 20, concerning an investigation into
the lack of building inspections for new home construction. More
info as it comes available.
Sept 17, 1999: No
suits for you Mad at a firm? Arbitration could be your only recourse
BY MARGARET MANNIX , US News 6/7/99 "As an enforcer of consumer protection
laws, I am tremendously alarmed about the frequency of [mandatory
arbitration clauses] and the often disguised or inconspicuous way they
are presented," says Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal,
adding that the consumer is in a Catch 22. "He is blocked from going
to court by the arbitration clause and prevented from arbitrating by high
upfront expenses."
Sept 17, 1999: Binding
Arbitration And Its Impact On Current Litigation by Stevann S. Wilson
and Maynard Green. A very DETAILED article on binding arbitration in Texas.
(Stevann Wilson is a full-time mediator and arbitrator. She has practiced
as a trial attorney for more than 20 years and as an attorney-mediator
and arbitrator for the past 7 years.)
Sept 17, 1999: FORCED
INTO ARBITRATION? NOT ANY MORE More employees are saying it's
unfair--and many judges agree
Sept 16, 1999: Posted the Council
of Better Business Bureaus Policy for Voluntary Consumer/Business Arbitration
in Contractual Commitments
Sept 10, 1999: House Bill 2258 "The consumer protection bill of
1999" sponsored by Representative Guitteriez. This will will make the
use of binding arbitrationr clauses in consumer contracts illegal. HBO
supports this bill.
Sept 10, 1999: Home
Owners For Better Building Testifies Before The Texas State Interim
Committee On State Affairs. "ARBITRATION DEADLY FOR THE CONSUMER"
