On Wednesday, in a joint hearing between the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees, the “Homeowner Protections Act of 2015” (AB 125) will be heard.
Assembly republicans issued today the following statement about the Act:
AB 125 improves current law so that Nevada homeowners – not lawyers – come first. Though the original law was intended to protect homeowners, it instead opened up the flood gates for excessive litigation.
When asked about the bill, Assemblyman Nelson said, “These reforms are a long time coming. As an attorney, I know how costly litigation is; unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits cost everyone, including those most in need of legal help. Construction-defect laws should focus on fixing problems as efficiently and expeditiously as possible, and not on enriching lawyers.”
With these reforms, homeowners will be protected from defective homes, and homebuilders will be protected from frivolous litigation. Too often, small business owners and homebuilders alike face the dreadful choice of paying excessive legal fees to defend against claims or paying exorbitant costs to settle them – regardless of the merits. Those costs raise insurance premiums and increase the costs of housing, slowing down Nevada’s economic comeback.
Needless legal costs from bad law also hinder the recovery of our construction industry, which has suffered more from this abuse than any industry.
With the passage of AB 125, Nevada’s homeowners, homebuyers, and homebuilders will be on more stable footing.
