CalAtlantic, Lennar Sued Over Apparent ‘Structural Defects’ Allegedly Plaguing South Carolina Homes

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CalAtlantic Group and Lennar Corporation face a proposed class action lawsuit wherein two South Carolina homeowners allege the companies built their house with “serious structural defects” that plague other similar houses built by the construction firms in the state.

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The 10-page lawsuit was filed by two Summerville, South Carolina, residents who noticed in 2023 that the second floor of their “Georgetown model” house, built by CalAtlantic and Lennar, was sagging and uneven in places. Upon reporting the problem to the companies, the plaintiffs were told the issue stemmed from an improper I-joist that ran the length of the second floor, the case states.

Though CalAtlantic and Lennar offered to do work to the flooring that they said would remedy the issue, the plaintiffs, since the problem “raised serious questions about the structural stability of their house,” hired attorneys and retained a construction expert to provide an independent evaluation of the underlying sagging problem and the appropriate solution, the lawsuit shares. 

The complaint says that although the plaintiffs’ counsel has requested copies of architectural and structural plans of the home with any changes, documentation from the I-joist manufacturer, and any work orders and photos of work done to address the problem, among other information, neither CalAtlantic nor Lennar, as of the date the case was filed, have provided any of the requested documents, in apparent breach of their contract with the consumers.

As such, the plaintiffs accuse the companies of being negligent, careless, and reckless in constructing their house without the proper structural support, in the form of a faulty I-joist, among other alleged “errors and omissions.”

“By virtue of building and selling a new house in the State of South Carolina, the Defendants are deemed to have made other implied warranties including the warranty of habitability and the warranty of good and workmanlike service. 

The Defendants breached their express and implied warranties with respect to the Plaintiff’s house by failing to construct the 2nd floor with sufficient structural support, installing a deficient I-joist, and such other failures as will be revealed during investigation and discovery.”

The lawsuit looks to represent all South Carolina owners of a “Georgetown model” house built by CalAtlantic Group or Lennar Corporation who either have not discovered the deficient I-beam issue on the second floor of their home or discovered the problem within the last three years.

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