Recent court filings have revealed new details in a lawsuit against HGTV stars Dave and Jenny Marrs of northwest Arkansas. The McGraths, Matthew, and Sarah filed a lawsuit against Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction in February 2023. They claimed that the defendants, Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction, built a home filled with defects.
According to the couple, the companies violated their contract. At least 21 code violations in that very home in Arkansas were exposed through the lawsuit with serious safety concerns. Now, HGTV lovers, let’s explore the Fixer to Fabulous Lawsuit Outcome.
Details Of The Fixer To Fabulous Lawsuit
The McGraths of Bentonville, Arkansas, claim to have spent over $10,000 for home renovations. But upon inspection at closing, “not a single item on the list of repairs had been performed.” Those repairs included installing a new sink, installing stairs and handrails in the back deck, placing windows in the garage, and extending hardwood floors into the bedrooms.
As the couple describes it, none of the projects were done within that agreed 30-day window prior to inspection. The complaint also alleges the companies “attempted some of the repairs listed but have failed to fully perform, and several of the attempts to repair have caused more damage to the house.”
Mediation Attempts And Evidence
It has been subject to numerous court-ordered attempts at mediation, and to date, no settlement has been arrived at after months of negotiation. A 45-page filing outlines the events leading up to the filing of the lawsuit. It includes some detailed information.
There is a letter from the McGraths’legal counsel to Dave Marrs, a known HGTV renovator. In addition, there is an Arkansas contractor’s structural investigation report included in the filing.
The legal counsel letter was dated January 3, 2023, and included professional estimates totaling $38,740 for drive and walkway repairs and $47,862 for landscaping and grading, including a French drain. Moreover, it cost the McGraths nearly $1,900 to discover the defects in their house.
A findings report dated November 12, 2022, indicated that further investigations and design analysis were required. Specifically, these issues pertained to roof framing, main floor framing, wall framing, and wind bracing. In addition, deck foundations, deck floor modifications, and attachment to the home needed further examination. Furthermore, there were concerns about grading and drainage issues.
It also warned that more structural problems could develop over time, saying, “The problems, which we observed, will continue and worsen until they are corrected.” It called for repairs to numerous structural elements and noted “a critical safety issue with the structural integrity of the deck” was that the deck was screwed to the rim of the house, rather than bolted. The report listed 21 “code issues or violations” for various parts of the house.
Legal Proceedings and Past Issues
The McGraths are asking for a court judgment against the defendants, plus attorney’s fees and the costs of litigation. The case has a pre-trial hearing set for 9 a.m. on September 5, 2024, with a five-day jury trial to begin September 23, 2024 at the Benton County Courthouse.
A publicist representing Dave and Jenny Marrs did not immediately return a request for comment. This will not be the first time, however, that the Marrs are faced with disgruntled clients. Back in 2021, they were being sued for failing to deliver homes that didn’t have defects.
That lawsuit claimed that Marrs “did not maintain an Arkansas Contractor’s License and neither Marrs Developing, LLC nor Marrs Construction, Inc. obtained the required construction-related permits from Benton County, Arkansas, for the remodel to occur at the home.” This case was dismissed after the plaintiffs settled their claims and released the defendants from any liabilities. This home was featured in a 2018 episode of Fixer to Fabulous.
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Conclusion
With one case disposed of in the past already, Jenny and Dave Marrs must be praying for an identical result in the present lawsuit. Unlike some other reality shows, HGTV programs rarely focus on the more unsavory aspects of the remodeling industry and some of the characters that come with it.
However, it is not known whether the home at the center of this lawsuit was featured on Fixer to Fabulous. KNWA/FOX24 went to lawyers representing both of them. The McGraths’ lawyer commented, “I think the position my clients want to take is to avoid public comment on any of this until it’s over.”
We haven’t, at this time, had a statement from an attorney representing the Marrs. Hence, the Fixer to Fabulous Lawsuit Outcome remains uncertain, with many eager to see how this legal battle unfolds.