After almost seven years of litigation, a Montana jury awarded a Billings homeowner $1.75 million over a sump pump and drainage system that apparently did more harm than good, according to the Billings Gazzette.

The jury said that Treasure State Plumbing and Heating Corp.; Oakland Home Builders Corp., both in Billings; and Gary Oakland, chairman CEO of The Oakland Cos., must pay Carla Ova a little less than $240,000 in damages for breach of contract, negligence and personal injury, plus $1.5 million in punitive damages.

The situation leading to the court case began in 2005 when Ova noticed water seeping into her house from a shallow aquifer under the home. Oakland and Treasure State worked to fix the problem, installing a sump pump and drain system that was supposed to pump water out from under the house and prevent water from seeping in.

Two years later, however, Ova noticed big problems with her home’s foundation.

More details here.

Source: Billings Gazette