Latest defect bill leads to sparring

Erin Neff

Friday, March 16, 2001 | 9:47 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A lawmaker and a lawyer traded accusations Thursday over yet another construction-defect bill.

Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, is sponsoring Senate Bill 310, which would create an appointed commission to handle construction defect claims.

Wearing a "Save Our Homes" button, also worn by homeowners throughout Carson City, Schneider said he was trying to protect consumers from attorneys "hustling and shaking them down" for business.

"Our homes have come under attack from attorneys trying to drum up business for litigation," Schneider told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

The bill would create a seven-member commission appointed by the governor. Four members would be homeowners, three would be contractors or experts.

The commission would not be paid. It would have subpoena power, however.

But Bob Maddox of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association said the bill has major problems that make it "unworkable."

"It adds an additional layer of bureaucracy," Maddox said. "It is skewed in favor of builders."

That prompted an angry response from Schneider, a committee member.

"You're presuming that the only course is in the courts," said Schneider.

Maddox said he was surprised to see Schneider wearing one of the trial lawyers' coalition buttons.

"I thought you had come over from the dark side," Maddox said.

"No, you're the dark side and I'm on the light side, which is the right side," Schneider growled back.

Myriad construction defect bills have been presented in both houses already this session -- some at the request of the trial lawyers and others on behalf of the Southern Nevada Home Builders.

Commerce and Labor Committee Chairman Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, said he wants to keep track of the bills in an attempt to arrive at some definitive legislation near the end of the session.