Letter: Extrapolation punishes the good with the bad

Monday, March 13, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

Brian Wargo's March 9 article, "Building their cases - legislation sought to clarify whether home defects can be grouped in class action," should send a message to all potential new homeowners in Nevada.

I have worked in the construction industry for over 30 years in the Las Vegas Valley and I have never seen the type of shenanigans that are being perpetrated against honest, credible contractors. Many of the construction defect lawsuits are fabricated.

Contractors with no defects are being forced, by the courts, to pay outlandish judgments.

Listen to the twisted logic that the industry is up against:

"Extrapolation is used in almost every area of the law," Robert Maddox, a member of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, said in the article. "Imagine if police had to test every grain of white powder in a kilogram bag of cocaine. That would be ridiculous."

Extrapolation means that every subcontractor pays whether or not there are defects. His analogy is incorrect. Extrapolation is like arresting the entire neighborhood for one bad actor's illegal activity. In most extrapolation cases, innocent bystanders are made to pay for doing the job correctly. Contractors' insurance costs are through the roof. (Pun intended).

Imagine the Water District deciding that your neighbor is too wasteful, therefore you should be fined. As always, follow the money trail.

These suits are not about making our homes better or safer. They are about lining the pockets of unscrupulous people.

Edward F. Perida, Las Vegas