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Shareholder Nicholas D. Siegfried was quoted in a Feb. 8 article in the Palm Beach Post about the firm’s lawsuit alleging significant shortcomings in the promised fixtures and finishes by the developer, builders, and design professionals behind the La Clara condominium in West Palm Beach.
The article reports that the lawsuit brought by the condominium association accuses developer Great Gulf and 21 other defendants of using a bait and switch scheme in which promised high-end finishes and amenities were replaced by ordinary and inexpensive alternatives. It documents that the suit alleges buyers of the $2 million to $6 million residences got aluminum windows instead of the elegant bronze-finished windows described in the sales materials. It also states: “Instead of white oak brushed wood flooring and fine wood millwork, they got carpet and faux wood wallpaper. Instead of a wine room with slat wood ceilings and a temperature-controlled cold storage space, they got common wine cubbies with no temperature control.”
The article also states that the lawsuit focuses on the condominium’s common areas, “but owners said there are problems with individual units that include chipped countertops, scratched cabinets, and sloppy drywalling that left outlets covered in paste.”
The newspaper reports that Nicholas Siegfried said in addition to the myriad decorative problems, construction defects in balcony railings are trapping water.
“That’s one of the more major issues,” he is quoted. “I think developers need to be put on notice that they need to deliver what they are representing a building to be because if they try to get away with it, people will notice.
. . . “Is someone just going through and saying, ‘That’s too expensive, we can do it cheaper?’” continues Nicholas. “These buyers didn’t buy something cheap, they bought something with beautiful custom finishes.”
The newspaper also reports that other concerns listed in the complaint include “a promised curving glass staircase was delivered as wood and drywall, cheap paint replaced venetian plaster in hallways, pool cabanas never materialized, outdoor tiles are cracked and stained, and lush landscaping to shield pool goers from neighboring buildings is instead sparse.” It states the approximately 500-page complaint lists 62 allegations, including violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and professional negligence.
Our firm salutes Nicholas for sharing his input on this recent lawsuit with the readers of the Palm Beach Post. Click here to read the complete article in the newspaper’s website.
