A construction defect case may arise when a homeowner or property owner sues a builder, contractor, developer, or other responsible parties for defective workmanship, materials, or design. These defects can cause structural failures, water intrusion, safety hazards, or other serious issues that reduce property value or make the home uninhabitable, including water damage.
Some Types of Construction Defects:
- Design Defects – Poor architectural or engineering plans (e.g., faulty drainage design leading to flooding).
- Material Defects – Use of substandard or defective materials (e.g., defective roofing shingles causing leaks).
- Workmanship Defects – Poor construction techniques (e.g., improperly installed windows leading to mold growth).
- Structural Defects – Foundation cracks, framing issues, or soil movement causing major structural instability.
- Code Violations – Failure to meet building code standards (e.g., inadequate electrical wiring posing fire risks).
Sauder Schelkopf is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in class action and personal injury litigation, with a notable focus on home products and construction defects. The firm has successfully represented homeowners in several significant cases, securing substantial settlements on their behalf.
Highlighted Cases:
- NIBCO Plumbing Products Settlement:
- Case: Cole v. NIBCO, Inc.
- Details: The firm served as court-appointed co-lead counsel in a lawsuit involving NIBCO’s PEX tubing, fittings, and clamps. Homeowners alleged these products were defective, leading to system failures.
- Outcome: Achieved a $43.5 million nationwide class action settlement for affected homeowners.
- Watts Regulator Co. Plumbing Settlement:
- Cases: Klug v. Watts Regulator Co. and Ponzo v. Watts Regulator Co.
- Details: Represented homeowners with defective toilet connectors and water heater connectors manufactured by Watts.
- Outcome: Secured a $14 million joint settlement on behalf of the homeowners.
- DuraPro Plumbing Supply Lines Settlement:
- Case: Ajose, et al. v. Interline Brands, Inc.
- Details: Litigated on behalf of homeowners who installed defective DuraPro plumbing supply lines that led to water damage.
- Outcome: Obtained a $16.5 million nationwide class action settlement.
- Defective Deck Stain Settlement:
- Case: Traxler v. PPG Industries, Inc.
- Details: Represented homeowners who purchased and used defective deck stain that failed prematurely.
- Outcome: Achieved a $6.5 million settlement for the affected homeowners.
These cases underscore Sauder Schelkopf’s commitment to holding manufacturers accountable for defective construction products and securing justice for homeowners. Their extensive experience and successful track record make us a formidable advocate in construction defect litigation.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If you purchased Big Ass Fans’ “clean air products” based on their advertised claims, you can contact the attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf by filling out the form on this page.