A couple who put up a sign outside their new $685,000 home warning buyers against buying the house next door has been hit with a $2.4 million lawsuit. Wonda and Claude LeBrun purchased the newly built home in Richmond, Va., but claim they discovered that it was structurally unsound — rendering it unlivable — just days after moving in. To the couple's dismay, they found that the floors were sinking, countertops were pulling away from the walls, and cracks had formed in the showers. So, they put a sign in front of their 4-bedroom home warning potential buyers not to purchase the house next door, which was built by the same company, N&H General Constructions. Now, the homebuilder is suing the couple for defamation. The construction firm denies the allegations, claiming that the couple's home is structurally sound, passed all inspections, gained certification and says workers would be happy to inspect the home and do any possible repairs. The LeBruns declined the offer, saying they don't trust the homebuilder to do the repairs. They hired two structural engineers, both of whom confirmed that the house has structural issues. They want the company to either buy back the house or pay a third party to do the repairs. N&H says the sign is damaging the company’s reputation and preventing further sales. With confronted with the LeBruns' claims of the shaking floors, gaps between the floors and door frames, and the wall cracking, they responded by saying that’s normal and all new homes do that. The company remains adamant that the house the LeBruns purchased is not structurally unsound.
