NewsChannel 3 Investigation: New DHS homes built improperly
The 40 residents in Hacienda Heights filed suit against their homebuilders and their subcontractors, saying the hoes they bought were built in violation of state and local building codes. Fortner also says mold inside the home has now made him so sick that doctors told him he couldn't live there anymore. And he says what's worse of all is that the homebuilders aren't doing anything about it.

Builders adjusting to new immigration laws
Since stiffer state immigration laws went into effect earlier this year, the level of fear has risen among those in the local construction industry who worry they could be penalized for illegal immigrants on the jobsite, said Dave Koons, a custom home builder and president of the Summit Home Builders Association. "For me, as a builder who subcontracts a lot of work, I realize that certainly I'm more exposed to the danger of being criminally prosecuted for having unknowingly hired illegal immigrants through a subcontractor, and that would be terrible - but it's not going to strip me of my livelihood," Koons said, adding that some small local subcontractors could lose everything in a similar situation.

Jackson resident, others disguised alleged drug money by paying others to send money orders to homebuilder
The main player in an elaborate scheme to disguise more than $1.1 million in cash payments to a Texas homebuilder will spend the next three years in a federal prison. No one knew at the time of Jackson resident Adrian Wilson's arrest the reasoning behind the scheme to disguise the cash payments. "He admitted it was drug money," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Eldridge.

What Bob Perry's Politicking Says About Campaign Finance Rules In America
But, Ahmed says she thinks the busloads of elderly lobbyist were in fact brought in, fed breakfast as well as slanted information, educated, by Pro court reform coaches connected to the Texas homebuilder industry about the so-called frivolous lawsuits, in what Ahmed believes was a clear case of smoke and mirrors politics meant to promote tort reform specifically favorable to home builders and developers. Ahmed says the Austin tort reform blitz was organized by the group Texas For Lawsuit Reform (TLR), run by Richard Weekly. Richard Weekly is the brother of another Texas homebuilder/developer, David Weekly. Ahmed and others have also said that the Texas Tort reform efforts were bankrolled by Developer Perry and Weekly's generous financial support for homebuilder friendly legislative, gubernatorial and judicial candidates.

P&Z to revisit county building codes
The biggest danger in building homes not to code in rural areas is dangerous or improper electrical wiring. The homes not built to standards in the rural areas may also have structural, plumbing or other mechanical problems, Mohave County Planning and Zoning Director Chris Ballard told the commissioners. Improper grading is also another issue, creating excessive dust and dangerous conditions. Some homes are being built on unstable housing pads that have been graded. Builders also sometimes block stream washes after grading, potentially causing flooding for a neighbor.

City regulations target unsafe housing conditions
While unsafe housing hasn't made big headlines recently, the death of a Simi Valley man and injuries to his girlfriend and infant two years ago sparked a political call to action. Whether with a sophisticated, three-agency program like Simi Valley's or a rental inspection program that is awaiting implementation in Moorpark, cities are responding to that call.

Virginia Beach officials hammer builder over shoddy work
First, Steve Bishard built a house too wide. Then he built a house too tall...On Friday, Bishard answered his critics. He said the mistakes weren't his fault. He blamed engineers and surveyors. He said the board's ire is misplaced.

Leveling the Arbitration Playing Field for Consumers
Consumers and state legislators are quite concerned about these practices, but there is an incorrect perception that states can do little about this because of the preemptive effect of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and other federal law.  This model law – developed by the National Consumer Law Center – avoids such preemption and significantly limits abuses in this area.  The model demonstrates that states have broad authority to regulate such abuses, despite the preemptive effect of the FAA.

New Corps of Engineers rules irk environmentalists, builders
The Bush administration will allow some construction of homes, shops, schools, prisons, hospitals and other buildings in flood plains without formal environmental reviews, despite the lessons of Hurricane Katrina...The waivers will apply only to developments that fill in less than 300 feet of a stream or less than a half-acre of wetlands, ponds or other waters. Another part of the regulations, approved in coordination with other federal agencies and the White House, waives the formal environmental reviews entirely for coal companies when they bury or reroute streams with their mining wastes.

Legislation targets misuse of independent contractors
While having the roof on your house replaced, a worker illegally classified as an "independent contractor," falls and is injured. Currently, you could be liable for that worker's injuries, but legislation moving forward at the Capitol would prevent such situations. H.F. 1283, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, would crack down on the increasing misclassification of construction workers as "independent contractors." Companies must pay Social Security and payroll taxes and provide workers' compensation and unemployment compensation insurance for employees – but not for "independent contractors," who are presumed to be self-employed.

Check out builder before hiring one
Last year, state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, introduced a bill requiring all home-improvement contractors to register with the state and draw up written contracts for jobs that exceed $500. The Senate approved the bill, but it got stuck in the House Appropriations Committee...Even the Pennsylvania Builders Association's director of public relations wasn't immune when he remodeled his bathroom four months ago...

SHALALA ON BOARD OF BUILDER SUED FOR POOR CONSTRUCTION
Donna Shalala is co-chair of the presidential group looking into shoddy care and maintenance at Walter Reed medical center  ...The owners of 29 houses in the Las Flores area near Rancho Santa Margarita are suing developer Lennar Corp. for $2.9 million, claiming the residences have defects because of faulty design and construction...

Senate OKs bill to boost homeowner rights in disputes
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that gives homeowners new rights in defective-workmanship disagreements with contractors, but the measure still faces an uncertain future in the House. Substitute Senate Bill 5550 creates a new home warranty effective in 2008, which will be after a study group made up of builders, insurers and others has reviewed the reasons for construction defects in new homes. The measure passed the Senate on a 30-19 vote mostly along party lines. "The days of 'caveat emptor' are over," said Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-Mercer Island and the prime sponsor of the bill, referring to a "buyer-beware" doctrine. He said homeowners testified in committee hearings about problems with foundations, leaking pipes, unsealed crawl spaces and, most of all, moisture damage.