|
P.O. Box 791438
,
San Antonio
TX
78279
Email:
president@hobb.org
*
Website: www.hobb.org
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Janet Ahmad
March
1, 2010
210-494-6404
Homeowners Robert
and Jane Cull Win $51 Million Decision
Wealthy Homebuilder and Powerful Political
Campaign Contributor Bob Perry found legally responsible for
construction defects and punitive damages.
“Justice has
been served. We are
grateful and in a state of shock” said, Jane Cull after the
verdict was read.
Bob
and Jane Cull bought their new
Mansfield
home
15 years ago from the politically powerful homebuilder Bob Perry.
Soon home construction defects and foundation problems began to
appear but the builder refused to make repairs.
The Culls were one of the very first construction defect binding
arbitration decisions rendered in
Texas
in which the Culls won an $800,000 decision.
In the 12 years that followed Bob Perry fought the decision through
the appeals process all the way to the Texas Supreme Court not once but twice.
Along the way 22 judges ruled in favor of the Culls until Bob Perry made
big, highly criticized campaign contributions to the Texas Supreme Court
Justices. In a controversial decision the high court ruled 5 to 4 to
overturn the $800,000 judgment in favor of Bob Perry sending the case to the
Tarrant County District 236th court that awarded the $51 million
judgment today.
Bob Perry has
long been a supporter of Tort Reform, lobbying seriously for legislation to
limit builder warranty responsibility and to restrict consumer protection
laws. In 2003, Bob Perry spent $8
million in campaign contributions influencing legislation written by John
Krugh, general
counsel and VP for
Bob
Perry
Homes
that created the Texas Residential
Construction Commission that was dubbed by many as the “Texas Home Builder
Protection Agency.” After two
scathing state agency reviews, one by the State Comptroller and the second by
the Texas Sunset Commission in 2009 that determined the agency caused more
harm than good for homebuyers, the Texas Legislature abolished the much
maligned agency.
“Finally the Culls have been vindicated.
Until Texas Lawmaker pass legislation to regulate and license the
building industry, powerful Tycoons like Bob Perry have no incentive to build
homes right the first time or treat their customer with respect or stand
behind the homes they build” said, Janet Ahmad, National President of Home
Owners for
Better
Building
.
###
|