Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015 | 2:26 p.m.
CARSON CITY — The state Assembly approved a bill today to curb lawyers from filing frivolous construction-defect lawsuits and collecting excessive fees.
The vote on AB-125, which now goes to the Senate, passed 25-17, mostly along party lines with Republican support.
Assemblyman Ira Hansen, R-Sparks, said homeowners are getting “a sliver” of the money awarded in lawsuits while trial attorneys are collecting big fees.
“Do we want to make lawyers rich or do we want to protect the homeowner?” Hansen asked.
Assemblyman Erven Nelson, R-Las Vegas, said excessive litigation is pushing homebuilders out of the market. “Attorney fees are causing all the problems and the market is drying up,” he said.
But Assemblyman James Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, called the measure a “roadblock” for homeowners who can’t get problems corrected by contractors or subcontractors.
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