Realtor sued for $130K lawsuit filed over alleged partial collapse of elevated home

NEW ORLEANS – A homeowner is suing a local realtor who allegedly had a hand in the faulty construction of his home that resulted in its partial collapse.

Derrick Lewis filed suit against Handy Realtors Inc., Craig Williams, ABC Insurance Company and American Security Insurance Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Sept. 29.

On May 16, 2011, Lewis allegedly entered into a contractual agreement with Handy Realtors Inc. and Craig Williams for constructional services such as elevating and raising the plaintiff’s home at 3832 Redbud Lane in Harvey. Within this agreement the defendants were required to build an 1,813 square foot structure and were to install a new ventilation system and mount turnbuckle tie-downs among other things, the suit says.

However, since the completion of the property numerous problems have allegedly arisen in regards to the elevation job. According to the plaintiff, the defendants have failed to abide by local and national building code standards, rendering their services as means for a refund.

Lewis further claims the defendants have failed to respond to a refund request. Thus, the aforementioned violations constitute a breach of contract as the defendants have failed to abide by a workmanlike manner as obligated by Louisiana Law.

Lewis is seeking $130,000 in damages, the total cost for renovation of the property, for the collapsing front den area, drywall cracks, cracked masonry, accumulating moisture in the floorboards, concrete cracks, unlevel counter areas and uneven application of slab.

The plaintiff is represented by attorney Joseph “Joey” F. LaHatte III of LaHatte Law Firm LLC.

The case has been assigned to Div. A Judge Tiffany G. Chase.

Case no. 2014-09477.