Woman says home was damaged by builder's negligence

A League City woman's insurance company is suing over claims her new home sustained severe water damage due to the builder's alleged negligence.

National Specialty Insurance Company, as subrogee of Sheila Perrine, filed a lawsuit Oct. 24 in Galveston County District Court against D.R. Horton Texas Ltd. and John Doe, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Perrine purchased a home built by  on Via Montesano in League City in February 2012, but eight months later, a toilet began leaking and caused water damage. The complaint states D.R. Horton repaired the leak and some of the damages but damaged a water line leading to the sink in the bathroom, which caused additional damage. Perrine says that on Nov. 13, 2012, a water shutoff valve manufactured by defendant John Doe failed, causing yet another leak and water damage so extreme as to make the residence uninhabitable. According to the complaint, the faulty valve was replaced but the water damage remained, and Perrine's insurer, National Specialty Insurance Company was obligated to pay her $71,203 for losses created by the water damage.

D.R. Horton is accused of negligence - construction, breach of contract/warranty and deceptive trade practices. Both defendants are accused of products liability.

National Specialty seeks more than $100,000 in compensatory damages, interest and costs of court. It is represented by attorneys Jeremy M. Jones, Kurt L. Lyn, Carlos Peniche and Radha Thiagarajan of Lam, Lyn & Philip in Houston.

Galveston County District Court case number: CV-0072997.