Dangerous, Illegal & More! Chip Gaines' Sued Over Botched Home Renovation
Nov. 14 2016, Updated 10:26 a.m. ET
Chip Gaines left a job site in a Fixer Upper state, RadarOnline.com has learned!
A client filed suit against the reality TV star in 2012 after he left her home in the middle of a project, claiming he was negligent in his renovations and her home was unlivable.
She reported that she accepted Gaines' $118,255 bid in June 2011 for "converting the attached garage into a bedroom and adding a carport." But instead, she ended up paying $139,611.50 for incomplete renovations.
She claimed that Gaines, 41, and Magnolia, "did not develop the necessary plans for the construction of the bedroom addition. As a result of the failure to draft sufficient plans and Defendants' lack of competency in construction, the bedroom floor was misconstructed sic," making it a "significant tripping hazard."
The client also claimed that Magnolia agreed to create a porch and extend her roof, but "despite representations that the roof and porch would be constructed in a good and workmanlike manner, the roof leaks." She later revised her suit to include that her hot water heater broke because of Gaines' negligence, and she had to pay to replace it.
She also reported that they "failed to obtain the necessary permits," specifically for a shed. The City of Waco later made her remove their add-on for an extra expense of $850.
Then, she alleged that Magnolia was supposed to pay all of the subcontractors on the project, but they did not. She reported that a lien was filed against her for $1,348.63 for materials and she had to hire a lawyer for the matter.
"Defendants represented to Plaintiff redacted that they would give her a credit for monies she paid directly to subcontractors," the documents continued. "Plaintiff redacted paid a total of $1,149.38 for landscaping, a dog door, and the sprinkler system which as not credited to her."
Finally, she claimed the renovations were not done in a timely manner, as "Defendants failed to meet any of the four completion dates set by Defendants."
"After several revisions of the completion date, Defendants took their last payment on April 6, 2012, in the amount of $10,000.00, and abandoned work in June of 2012, over one year after starting the projects," the documents read. "On numerous occasions Plaintiff reminded Defendants of the deleterious effects of the delays on her medical conditions and general well-being."
Gaines denied her allegations, saying that "Plaintiff repeatedly made changes to the agreed plans and/or interfered with Defendants' attempts to tender performance under the contract. Moreover, Plaintiff refused to make final payment and refused to permit Defendants from re-entering the job site to complete the project." He also claimed he should not be named in the suit, as the contract "did not impose any obligations" on him.
He claimed that she approved of all of the work before they completed it, and has no right to complain. He added that "Plaintiff understood that the shed would require city approval which Defendants could not guarantee" as well.
He also said in his counterclaims that she "failed to pay for all of the labor and materials she contracted for and refused to allow Defendant Magnolia to complete construction on the project" and that she "gave directives to subcontractors or other workers on the job site."
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Finally, he said that "Defendant Magnolia incurred costs of $170,309.36 on the project to renovate Plaintiff's home. Plaintiff paid Defendant Magnolia only $139,611.50."
After a lengthy battle, the case was dismissed without prejudice on July 31, 2014. The client claimed that all of her claims were resolved and Gaines dropped his countersuit.
Stay with RadarOnline.com for the latest on Gaines' legal woes.
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