Frequently Asked Questions
What is a class action?
A class action is a type of lawsuit in which one person (the plaintiff) brings claims on behalf of other people who are not part of the lawsuit but who suffered the same injury.
In the most basic lawsuit, one individual plaintiff sues a defendant. If two or more people suffer an injury together, they may sue a defendant together. For example, if a husband and wife own their home together and there are construction defects in their home, they may sue the builder together. In a class action, there are many people who suffered a similar harm and one person sues a defendant on behalf of all of those people. A simple example of a class action is if your water company improperly adds $10 to all of its customers’ bills one month, one person could bring a class action on behalf of all of the water company’s customers to recover the amount wrongfully billed.
Class actions are often used in construction defect cases, and they are a good way to help a large number of homeowners all suffering from similar construction problems. For example, in a condominium building, the builder may have committed the same construction mistake at each unit and all of the residents may use a class action to recover money from the builder to fix the problem. Similarly, in a neighborhood where the same builder built the homes, the homeowners may use a class action to recover from the builder.
A party has to follow a certain procedure to bring a class action lawsuit, and it is important to have a lawyer with experience handling class actions.
Other Construction Defect FAQs:
- How does South Carolina law protect home purchasers?
- How long do I have to file a suit against the developer or builder for my home?
- How long does a construction lawsuit last?
- How much will a construction lawsuit cost me?
- I did not purchase my home or condo directly from the builder. Do I still have a claim against the builder?
- If I sue my builder, can I continue living in my home or condo while the lawsuit is ongoing?
- If I sue my builder, will I have to go to court?
- If my warranty has expired, does that mean I no longer have a claim against the developer or contractors?
- If the builder or developer that sold me my home, townhome, or condo is no longer in business or is bankrupt, can I still recover for construction defects?
- Is arbitration mandatory?
- What are signs that foundation or settlement problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that problems exist in the walls of my home?
- What are signs that roof problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that water leak problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that window or window leak problems exist in my home?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in roofs?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in walls?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to foundations, soil, and settlement?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to windows and window leaks?
- What are some potential construction problems related to water leaks?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of arbitration?
- What compensation can I get from a lawsuit for construction defects?
- What duty does a homeowner’s association have in relation to construction defects?
- What if the builder says there is no problem with my home?
- What is a class action?
- What is a construction defect?
- What is arbitration?
- What is flashing?
- What is mildew?
- What is mold?
- What is wood rot?
- What role do homeowner’s associations play in addressing construction defects?
- What should I do if I find a construction defect?
- Where does The Steinberg Law Firm handle construction cases?
- Who can sue for a problem in a townhome or condominium?
- Who is responsible and liable for a construction defect?
- Why do I need to hire a lawyer experienced in construction issues?
- Why should I worry about construction problems when my builder gave me a warranty?
PRACTICE AREAS
A class action is a type of lawsuit in which one person (the plaintiff) brings claims on behalf of other people who are not part of the lawsuit but who suffered the same injury.
In the most basic lawsuit, one individual plaintiff sues a defendant. If two or more people suffer an injury together, they may sue a defendant together. For example, if a husband and wife own their home together and there are construction defects in their home, they may sue the builder together. In a class action, there are many people who suffered a similar harm and one person sues a defendant on behalf of all of those people. A simple example of a class action is if your water company improperly adds $10 to all of its customers’ bills one month, one person could bring a class action on behalf of all of the water company’s customers to recover the amount wrongfully billed.
Class actions are often used in construction defect cases, and they are a good way to help a large number of homeowners all suffering from similar construction problems. For example, in a condominium building, the builder may have committed the same construction mistake at each unit and all of the residents may use a class action to recover money from the builder to fix the problem. Similarly, in a neighborhood where the same builder built the homes, the homeowners may use a class action to recover from the builder.
A party has to follow a certain procedure to bring a class action lawsuit, and it is important to have a lawyer with experience handling class actions.
Other Construction Defect FAQs:
- How does South Carolina law protect home purchasers?
- How long do I have to file a suit against the developer or builder for my home?
- How long does a construction lawsuit last?
- How much will a construction lawsuit cost me?
- I did not purchase my home or condo directly from the builder. Do I still have a claim against the builder?
- If I sue my builder, can I continue living in my home or condo while the lawsuit is ongoing?
- If I sue my builder, will I have to go to court?
- If my warranty has expired, does that mean I no longer have a claim against the developer or contractors?
- If the builder or developer that sold me my home, townhome, or condo is no longer in business or is bankrupt, can I still recover for construction defects?
- Is arbitration mandatory?
- What are signs that foundation or settlement problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that problems exist in the walls of my home?
- What are signs that roof problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that water leak problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that window or window leak problems exist in my home?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in roofs?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in walls?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to foundations, soil, and settlement?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to windows and window leaks?
- What are some potential construction problems related to water leaks?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of arbitration?
- What compensation can I get from a lawsuit for construction defects?
- What duty does a homeowner’s association have in relation to construction defects?
- What if the builder says there is no problem with my home?
- What is a class action?
- What is a construction defect?
- What is arbitration?
- What is flashing?
- What is mildew?
- What is mold?
- What is wood rot?
- What role do homeowner’s associations play in addressing construction defects?
- What should I do if I find a construction defect?
- Where does The Steinberg Law Firm handle construction cases?
- Who can sue for a problem in a townhome or condominium?
- Who is responsible and liable for a construction defect?
- Why do I need to hire a lawyer experienced in construction issues?
- Why should I worry about construction problems when my builder gave me a warranty?