Article posted on:10/25/2007

In September 2007, attorneys Andrew Slutkin and Avery Strachan of the law firm of Silverman Thompson Slutkin and White filed a construction fraud and construction negligence lawsuit in the Circuit Court for Harford County against home builders Altieri Homes, Inc., Altieri Enterprises, Inc., Frank Altieri and Daren Altieri, alleging that they developed and built a single-family house that they knew was not structurally safe and sound, sold that house to the Plaintiff, and then affirmatively represented to the Plaintiff after the sale that the house was structurally safe and sound, thereby defrauding the Plaintiff and endangering the lives of the Plaintiff and her two young children.

The suit alleges that the house that the Altieri Defendants built and sold to the Plaintiff is lacking necessary structural support, has a variety of construction defects, sways when someone walks up the stairs or in light wind and, according to a certified structural engineer, is so structurally unsound that it is in danger of collapsing. The suit also includes a claim of negligence against the engineering firm that allegedly designed the house, Consulting Engineers, Corp.

During depositions in the case, Altieri Homes President and construction manager Daren Altieri admittted that the house was not built according to the engineering drawings that Altieri had specifically obtained to built the house. Specifically, Daren Altieri admitted that Altieri Homes failed to install a steel portal frame and sheer walls in the house, whcih are required for lateral structural support. He also admitted that the house does not meet code. Trial is scheduled for the later part of 2008.