Many homeowner associations and homeowners in California new home developments are finding that the common areas of their communities and their individual homes have construction defects which are not attributable to the lack of ordinary maintenance. These construction defects include roof leaks, deck leaks, mold infestations, deteriorating streets, improper drainage, structural failure, inadequate soil preparation, faulty electrical wiring, insufficient insulation and sound proofing, inadequate equipment, cracked slabs, peeling paint, Chinese Drywall and other defects too numerous to list. The construction defects can be caused by poor design, poor construction, poor choice of materials or defective materials.  See: Common Construction Defects.

Nearly all CC&Rs impose upon homeowner associations the duty to maintain and repair the common areas. Legally, this duty includes paying for the correction of defective conditions, including those set forth above. These repairs, which can be quite expensive, can be paid for in several ways:

First, the association can pay for the cost of repairs out of its reserves. However, in most cases the reserves are insufficient.

Second, the amount required to pay the cost of repairs can be obtained by specially assessing the individual homeowners or borrowing funds.

Third, the association may seek redress from the builder of the project who in many cases is legally responsible for the cost of repairs.


Michael T. Chulak & Associates
represents homeowner associations and property owners throughout California on a contingency basis in dealing with builders who are responsible for defective construction. Generally, we can meet or beat the contingent fee percentages proposed by our competitors.

We regularly advance all or some of the costs of litigation including expert fees.  Contact us for additional information.

We have prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Construction Defects, which should answer most questions you have. We have also prepared a Due Diligence Review Checklist to assist you in understanding the process, a Construction Defects Glossary, a Directory of California Geotechnical Engineers, and a Directory of California Geologists.

Associations and property owners should know their legal rights and not be misled or intimidated when attempting to seek redress for construction defects. The attorneys with Michael T. Chulak & Associates are available to assist you in this regard. We are homeowner/consumer advocates. There will be no charge for the initial consultation.

For additional information on construction defects or other legal services, please contact us.

Attention Construction Defect Attorneys.
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Construction defect, landslide and underground water intrusion cases handled by our construction defect attorneys as of November 12, 2007:

Area
Anaheim
Baldwin Park
Brentwood
Carson
Castaic
Chatsworth
Hollywood
Inglewood
Ladera Heights
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Civic Center
Los Angeles, Mid-Wilshire
Malibu
Monterey Hills
Oakpark
Palmdale
Palos Verdes
Paso Robles
San Diego
San Fernando
Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Saugus
Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks
Sierra Madre
Simi Valley
South Pasadena
Studio City
Studio City
Studio City
Studio City
Sunland
Sylmar
Tarzana
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks
West Hills
Woodland Hills

Type
Condominiums
Single Family Homes
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Home
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Home
Single Family Homes
Single Family Homes
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Homes
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Home
Condominiums
Single Family Homes
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Homes
Single Family Home
Condominiums
Condominiums
Single Family Home
Condominiums
Single Family Home
Apartments

Number of Homes
20
15
24
41
48
1
21
25
65
48
8
150
8
2
92
2
1
4
44
256
36
144
4
326
28
42
15
1
16
4
15
10
5
62
2
1
26
10
1
13
1
633

This information is intended to provide general information only. If legal advice is required, the services of an attorney should be obtained. Not every situation is the same.
 


Areas Served:


Los Angeles County:

Acton, Agoura, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Park, Bassett, Bell, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Bouquet Canyon, Box Canyon, Burbank, Calabasas, Calabasas Hills, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Crystalaire, Culver City, Del Sur, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, El Monte, El Segundo, Encino, Firestone Park, Flintridge, Gardena, Glassell, Glassell Park, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Hawaiian Gardens, Hansen Dam, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Highland Park, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Industry, Inglewood, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta- Montrose, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, La Canada, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lake View Terrace, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Leimert Park, Lennox, Leona Valley, Lincoln Heights, Littlerock, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Maywood, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Monte Nido, Montebello, Monterey Park, Mount Baldy, Mount Wilson, Newhall, North El Monte, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Pacoima, Palisades, Palmdale, Paramount, Pearblossom, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Quartz Hill, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Park, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Ritter Ranch, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Saratoga Hills, Saugus, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stevenson Ranch, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sun Village, Tarzana, Temple City, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal City, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Venice, Vernon, Walnut, Walnut Park, West Covina, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles, West Toluca Lake, Westchester, Whittier, Wilmington, Windsor Hills, Winnetka, Woodland Hills.

Ventura County:

Camarillo, Channel Islands, Faria Beach, Fillmore, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Saticoy, Somis, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura (San Buenaventura), Westlake Village.

Orange County:

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Balboa Island, Brea, Buena Park, Corona Island, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forrest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Orange, Placentia, Rossmoor, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Heights, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Tustin Foothills, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda.

San Bernadino County:

Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear, Big Bear City, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Crestline, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Joshua Tree, Lake Arrowhead, Landers, Loma Linda, Montclair, Morongo Valley, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Running Springs, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley.

Riverside County:

Anza, Banning, Beaumont, Bermuda Dunes, Blythe, Cabazon, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Cherry Valley, Coachella, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, East Blythe, East Hemet, El Cerrito, Glen Avon, Hemet, Highgrove, Home Gardens, Homeland, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Lakeland Village, Lakeview, Mecca, Mira Loma, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Murrieta Hot Springs, Norco, Nuevo, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pedley, Perris, Quail Valley, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Rubidoux, San Jacinto, Sun City, Sunnyslope, Temecula, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Wildomar, Winchester, Woodcrest.

California:

Alameda County, Alpine County, Amador County, Butte County, Calaveras County, Colusa County, Contra Costa County, Del Norte County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Glenn County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Lassen County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Marin County, Mariposa County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Modoc County, Mono County, Monterey County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Plumas County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Sierra County, Siskiyou County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tehama County, Trinity County, Tulare County, Tuolumne County, Ventura County, Yolo County, Yuba County