Assembly OKs Bill Aimed at Curbing Construction Defect Suits

A bill aimed at curbing frivolous lawsuits over construction defects has passed the Nevada Assembly.

Assembly members voted 17-25 on Tuesday along party lines to approve AB125. Democrats opposed the measure.

Republicans say the bill would fix a law that was originally meant to protect homeowners when flaws surfaced in their houses, but has opened the floodgates for expensive litigation and created a financial incentive for attorneys to file suit.

Democratic opponents say they worry the bill helps contractors while making it harder for homeowners to get recourse when they encounter a problem with their house.

An amendment added Friday removes the possibility of criminal penalties for homeowners if the wrongly describe their defect.
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