A recent court filing has shed new light on a lawsuit against the companies owned by popular HGTV stars Dave and Jenny Marrs. Bentonville, Arkansas residents Matthew and Sarah McGrath filed the lawsuit in February 2023, claiming that a house built for them a year prior had numerous defects, and that the construction companies had breached their contract.

The lawsuit specifically mentions Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction, both owned by Dave Marrs, who is known for his appearances on HGTV shows such as "Rock the Block" and "Fixer to Fabulous". According to the McGraths, they paid over $10,000 for various upgrades on their Bella Vista home, including replacing the kitchen sink, adding stairs and a handrail to the back deck, installing windows in a garage panel, and extending hardwood floors into the bedrooms.

The McGraths allege that an inspection conducted prior to the property's closing revealed a list of necessary repairs for Jupiter Rentals. However, they claim that none of the repairs were performed, stating that the companies only made unsuccessful attempts, some of which even caused further damage to the house.

After taking possession of the property, the McGraths claim to have discovered additional construction defects. Furthermore, an inspection conducted later revealed more "deficiencies in the construction". Despite multiple attempts at court-ordered mediation, the two parties have failed to reach a settlement.

A recent court filing includes a letter from the McGraths' legal counsel to the Marrs, which outlines the estimated costs of remedial work required for the home. The estimates, which do not include an additional $1,900 spent by the McGraths in attempts to assess the flaws in construction, highlight the extensive nature of the necessary repairs.

Included in the filing is also a report of findings from a structural investigation conducted by an Arkansas-based contractor. The report suggests that further investigations and design analysis are needed for several areas of the home, including roof framing, floor framing, wall framing, wind bracing, deck foundations, deck floors, grading, and drainage issues.

The report notes that due to the home's age, additional structural issues could emerge in the coming years. It identifies nearly two dozen code issues or violations found in different parts of the house, with one critical safety issue concerning the deck, which was incorrectly screwed instead of being properly bolted to the rim.

The McGraths are seeking judgment against the defendants and are requesting the court to award attorneys' fees and litigation costs as relief. When asked for comment, the McGraths' attorney stated that his clients wished to refrain from public comment until the matter is resolved. Representatives for the defendants have not responded to requests for comment.

A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for September 5, with a five-day jury trial set to begin on September 23 at the Benton County Courthouse. It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Marrs' construction companies have faced legal action, as they were previously sued in 2021 for allegedly failing to complete work on a home without defects. The previous lawsuit also highlighted alleged permit and licensing issues.

The outcome of the upcoming trial will determine the resolution of this ongoing dispute and potentially have implications for the reputation and operations of the HGTV stars' owned companies.