The Scope and Application of Florida’s Common Law Implied Warranties

(This article appears in The Dispute Resolver Blog from Division 1 of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry – ADR, Dispute Avoidance and Litigation. Click on the link below to read the complete article).

In representing a purchaser, developer or a developer/builder involved in a warranty dispute pertaining to a residence in the State of Florida, consider the Florida Supreme Court’s most recent ruling concerning the scope and application of common law implied warranties in Maronda Homes, Inc. v. Lakeview Reserve Homeowners Ass’n, 127 So. 3d 1258 (Fla. 2013).

In Maronda, a homeowner’s association filed suit against its developer for breach of common law implied warranties for a defective storm water drainage system serving the entire property. The association experienced buckling, splitting of pavement and asphalt, excessive flooding, soil erosion, mosquito infestation and swamp-like conditions, which directly affected the homes and access to the homes.

The developer filed a third party action against the contractor seeking indemnification for the allegations raised by the association. The developer and the contractor filed a motion for summary judgment against the association, and relied, in part, on the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s application of common law implied warranties in Port Seawall Harbor & Tennis Club Owners Association, Inc. v. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Martin County, 463 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985). They argued that the defects did not meet the elements required for asserting common law implied warranties because the alleged defects did not immediately support the residences.

{Click here to see the complete article in the ABA blog}.