The big picture
- The lawsuit reveals 21 code violations, unfinished projects and damage to the McGraths' Arkansas home.
- Marrs' companies allegedly failed to complete the repairs and caused further damage, prompting the lawsuit.
- Pre-trial hearing set for September with allegations of structural problems, safety hazards and need for repairs.
Things are not so fabulous for the stars of Fixer of Fabulous. A recent court filing has revealed more details about the lawsuit filed against Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction. Both companies are owned by the HGTV reality star, Dave Marrs. First introduced in February 2023, Matthew and Sarah McGrath have accused Dave Marrs' companies that the house he built for them suffered from numerous defects in addition to a breach of contract. The lawsuit alleges at least 21 code violations at the couple's Arkansas home. With the lawsuit underway, it's time for Dave and Jenny Marrs to solve this not so fabulous situation.
The McGraths, a couple based in Bentonville, Arkansas, where it is primarily used Fastener and fabuloushave claimed to have paid over $10,000 for upgrades to their home. But when the pre-closure inspection took place, “not a single item on the repair list had been completed.” Between replacing the sink, adding stairs and handrails to the back deck, installing windows in the garage and adding hardwood floors to the bedrooms, the couple alleges in the lawsuit that none of the projects were completed within the previously agreed upon 30-day window. to the inspection. The lawsuit goes on to say that the companies “attempted to make some of the listed repairs but have not been fully successful, and several of the attempted repairs have caused further damage to the home.” According to the report, there had been attempts at court-ordered mediation, but they had failed after months of back-and-forth between the parties.
The 'Fixer to Fabulous' stars have been sued before
With new evidence revealed in the lawsuit, a 45-page file has been entered into evidence. McGrath's legal counsel alleged that an Arkansas-based contractor conducted a structural investigation, which also resulted in $38,740 for the repair and proper construction of automobiles and walkways and $47,862 for landscaping and grade, including installation of a French drain. Besides, the letter states that the McGraths paid $1,900 to discover the extent of defects in the home's construction. And this is supposedly not the end. It is only the beginning of the work that would have to rectify the house. When it came to the code violations, they included the deck being bolted to the edge of the house instead of bolted down, causing critical safety issues with the structural integrity of the deck. The McGraths will seek a court judgment against the defendants, in addition to attorney's fees and costs of litigation as relief. A pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 5 with a five-day trial set for Sept. 23 at the Benton County Courthouse.
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A representative for Dave and Jenny Marrs has yet to respond for comment at this time. Dave and Jenny Marrs already have experience with unhappy customers in the past. The Rock the Block stars have previously been sued over construction-related disputes. in 2021, the companies were sued for not having completed the works on their homes without defects. Additionally, that lawsuit said the Marrs “did not maintain an Arkansas contractor's license and neither Marrs Developing, LLC nor Marrs Construction, Inc. obtained the necessary building permits from Benton County, Arkansas for the remodeling to occur at home. .” In the end, that case was dismissed with the plaintiffs settling their lawsuits, “releasing the defendants from any claims the plaintiffs may have against them.” This house was featured in a 2018 episode of Fixer of Fabulous.
With a case finally solved, Jenny and Dave no doubt hope for the same outcome. Unlike other reality shows, HGTV shows rarely show the dark side of the home improvement industry and the personal lives of the personalities. It's also unclear if the first home mentioned in the lawsuits were featured homes Fixer of Fabulous.
All episodes of Fixer of Fabulous are available for playback in MAX.
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