Miami, FL — The Seminole Tribe of Florida has filed a lawsuit against Lennar Homes, claiming that hundreds of homes built on its reservations are defective and unsafe.
Lennar constructed more than 450 townhomes and single-family homes across six Seminole reservations, including a community in Hollywood. According to the tribe, the problems became apparent soon after families moved in around 2020, with issues ranging from water intrusion and mold to structural cracks, electrical failures, and air conditioning problems.
“All the roofs have to come off and be replaced. Every single house of 465 has water intrusion and mold issues. The longer it goes, more water gets in there. They have electrical problems, electric failure, air conditioning issues,” said William Scherer, attorney for the Seminole Tribe.
Some residents have had to store belongings outdoors or temporarily move out due to unsafe living conditions, according to the lawsuit. The Seminole Housing Department documented damage in several homes, including buckling tiles, cracks in stucco, and mold behind walls and ceilings.
Tribe Seeks Accountability
The Seminole Tribe paid $300 million to Lennar for the construction and is demanding that the company cover all repair costs, temporary housing expenses, and health monitoring for affected residents.
“We’ve asked Lennar to pay everything they caused: to build these houses, to move the people out, to pay for their temporary housing, to pay other expenses they have, and, more importantly, to monitor their health because there are significant health concerns for living in mold-infested houses,” Scherer said.
Lennar Responds
Lennar issued a statement affirming its commitment to quality:
“Lennar stands firmly behind the quality of its homes. When quality falls short of our high standards, our goal is to address those issues without delay, and in this instance, we promptly proposed a comprehensive plan to do so. Our team is ready to implement these repairs immediately because our priority is resolving concerns for homeowners—not prolonging the process.”
This is not Lennar’s first construction quality lawsuit in Florida this year, with ongoing cases in Homestead and Volusia County. It remains unclear whether the Seminole Tribe’s lawsuit will proceed to court or arbitration.
The case underscores the growing scrutiny on large-scale residential construction projects and their impact on residents’ safety and health.
Leave a Reply