Couple claims shoddy work by contractor led to home's demolition

GALVESTON � A Harris County couple claims a Montgomery County contractor's work on their Bayou Vista home was performed so poorly that they had to have the structure demolished.

According to a lawsuit filed April 4 in Galveston County District Court, Thomas and Alida Duggan claim B&B Remodeling & Foundation and Bobby Borchgardt represented themselves as qualified construction contractors, but their work was substandard.

"The plaintiffs relied on the defendants' false representations when they agreed to hire the defendants to perform the repair work on their home," the suit states.

Court papers show the Duggans hired the defendants to repair substantial Hurricane Ike damages to their Bayou Vista property. One of the tasks called for elevating the structure.

"In fact, the work performed by the defendant in elevating the home was so poor and caused such additional damage to the home that it was rendered unrepairable and had to be demolished," the original petition states.

"This demolition was necessitated not by the damage from Hurricane Ike, but by the substandard work performed by the defendants."

The Duggans accuse the defendants of fraud, breach of contract and violating the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Consequently, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

They are represented by The Scott Law Firm PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia.

Case No. 11-cv-0570