Homeowners Win $51 Million Decision

HomeOwners for Better Building

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 .     
 

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