Construction Defects 101: The Definitive Guide to Understanding Construction Defects in California

What is a Construction Defect? How can I get help with construction defects? Who can help me? What is it going to cost? How do I pay for help? Why am I stuck in this situation in the first place?

Scott Levine has been representing homeowners and homeowner associations since the early 1990s when he became an attorney. He began his practice representing developers - not in construction defect cases but in general civil litigation matters. One day he was asked by another associate in the law firm that he worked to sit in on a deposition. From that point forward, Scott has worked on construction defect cases. The complexity and dynamics of the peoples and issues has drawn Scott to enjoy helping homeowners and homeowner associations through the maze of what is construction defect litigation. Before the Aas decision was handed down by the California Supreme Court, the practice was fair to homeowners and homeowner associations. When the Court issued its decision, Scott knew that the only remedy for consumers in California was to seek legislation that fixed what the Court did to them. In 2002, Scott had the distinguished opportunity to work on legislation that became what is known today as SB800 or Civil Code §895 et seq. The negotiations came during the summer of 2002 and occupied a great deal of Scott's time and energy. In the end though, consumers were given a set of standards that they could hold builders responsible for in the construction of their homes and buildings. The trade was a right to repair - a right that most builders do not take seriously. Since 2002, Scott has lectured with lawyers who practice construction defects as well as with mediators, retired judges and sitting judges on the subject. These lectures have given Scott insight into the practice from different perspectives. This allows Scott to provide advice knowing that there is another side to the case. Sometimes that advice is to mediate and other times it is to fight on for another period of time. Scott enjoys working with homeowners and homeowner associations to educate them about the law and about their particular case. No two cases are the same and each client or group of clients in the case of single family homes deserves a litigation strategy that is best for them and their situation.