As We Say In The Legal World: Holy Cow

Talk about a screwed up system: A couple in Mansfield sued Perry Homes because of alleged bad construction issues with their home. Shortly before trial, they invoked an arbitration clause in the contract, went to that arbitration, and were awarded $800,000. Perry Homes, not liking the arbitration award, appealed the case all the way to the Texas Supreme Court which reversed the decision and held that the couple waited too long to seek arbitration. So Perry Homes won the appeal and the case headed back to regular court. (Take a look at this Dallas Morning News story last February implying that contributions by Perry Homes to the Supreme Court campaigns makes the case look sleazy.) But here's the verdict today in Tarrant County against Perry: $58 million. Ouch. Edit: I predict this is going to be a huge national news story within the next couple of days. Credit to the Texas Lawyer's newspaper blog for breaking it first. (And I promise I would subscribe to that paper if it didn't cost $199 a year.)