one voice
McKenzie Bridge,#2Author of original report
Thu, June 02, 2011
More photos
one voice
McKenzie Bridge,#3Author of original report
Wed, June 01, 2011
More Photos
one voice
McKenzie Bridge,#4Author of original report
Wed, June 01, 2011
As this report evolves into a complete picture, it is only fair to include the contractors who actually did the work - accountability is shared, after all. The officials at the city of Eugene did not actually swing a hammer, pour the foundation, or create this unsafe building. They facilitated the process, and were the authority responsible for overseeing that the structure was built to regulated code.. The government regulated process of building safe residential homes charges money for building permits and inspections, and is the ONLY authority over the contractors who do the building. When they refuse to regulate, the system is encouraged to run amok.
McKenzie Taylor Construction was the preferred insurance contractor, aka contractor #1. [McKenzie Taylor Construction 3771 Olympic Street, Springfield, OR 97478 541-747-5413]
This contractor installed a temporary power pole installed to accommodate the homeowners insurance provided trailer (temporary living). The temporary power pole contained a 30 amp breaker on a 20 amp circuit, discovered only after power cords were shorting out and breakers in trailer were constantly resetting. (Inspected and passed city inspection by Stuart Ramsing 87300 Gypsy Lane, Eugene, OR 97402 541-345-9500) McKenzie Taylor was fired by homeowner on the grounds they put the homeowners family at risk of electrical fire just 8 days after the homeowners family escaped the total loss house fire. It was 9 months later that homeowner was provided a copy of their bill, and this company is now under investigation for insurance fraud.
Homeowner oversaw the removal of debris from the home, as mold doesnt wait. David Platz Construction was hired to assist with plans and moving forward on repairs. [David Platz 170 SE Woody Ct Myrtle Creek, OR 97457 541-863-4663, has a very clean State issued CCB license] 2 months passed, and plans submitted to the city for approval in early February. The plans were rejected by the city building departments Mr Bob Grafe, as they were drawn on the wrong tax lot one across the street and 2 doors down. Dave Platz was then terminated.
Tracy Smith Construction 2615 Third Street, Springfield, OR 97477 541-741-0042 was hired for the plans and design phase. 2 months later, a beautiful set of plans were submitted to the City Building Department, complete with correct tax lot, and were approved in mid April, 2009. As Mr Smith did not have time to participate in the demolition, the plans did not capture the full extent of the fire damage,
requiring revisions once construction began.
Tyson Booher of Booher Builders Inc 81211 Jackson Road Creswell, OR 97426-9377 (541) 942-3300 & Adam Imbler of Imbler Construction [87885 Misty Lane, Veneta, OR 97487 541-517-3446] Were hired to excavate the damaged foundation, and pour the
replacing foundation. The excavated area was overdug by Tyson, and as they prepped the site with gravel, they chose not to compact it. Imbler neglected to pour the foundation per the plans, and the old and new foundation were not tied together as required. As described in the report above, the inspection process didnt catch this, and it is was only in reviewing extensive photos of the
foundation pour that confirms this. One picture shows Adam imbler using a hand rake to level tire marks in the gravel while concrete is poured in the same area. All inspections passed by the city, although the handwriting on the inspection card is much like the Adam Imblers handwriting on the Foundation Contract. Both Imbler and Booher were paid in full for their services, and it was understood that
services met code (as they passed city inspections). It was only later when photos were reviewed in detail that the true nature of the work was discovered. It was also later discovered that Tyson Booher was using his brothers company license, after his own CCB license was revoked.
Adam Imbler was the referring contractor for Chris Latini.
Wood Fellas Construction aka Chris Latini aka Latini & Lyman, aka Chris Latini Construction 1530 Holly Ave Eugene Oregon 97408 Phone:541-868-7096 & Noah Lacey Construction, 2535 Jeppesen Acres Rd Eugene, OR 97401 541-337-9307
Chris Latini of Woodfellas was hired to Frame my home, even though he submitted the highest framing bid. He was chosen for the professionalism conveyed in the bid and contract he provided. He brought
Noah Lacy onsite, and began construction of the underfloor in mid June. (Lacey was unlicensed subcontractor at the time. In September of 2010, Lacey admitted in Small Claims Court that he accepted a cash payment (payment was made by homeowner under threat of physical harm by Latini) of $6,900.00 for his work, unreported to the IRS and the money was spent. Latini stood up in court and stated that since it was cash, technically, the homeowner owed this money again.)
Plans were revised with supplementary information and provided to the city, as the damage was more intensive than reflected on the plans and permit.
Chris (and Lacey) did not build the house to the plans specifications. The Underfloor framing inspection failed on 6-23-09, as he used thick stacks of asphalt roofing shingles to shore up and level the underfloor, on top of areas that were completely unsupported. A Correction Memo was issued by the City of Eugene detailing the areas of failure to meet code. Instead of correcting this, Latini called (without authorization or permission to do so) Home Insulation CO [2540 Highway 99 N, Eugene, OR 97402] to have them cover up the work the same day. He then called for a re inspection of the
underfloor framing the next day, after the failing work was covered up - and the inspector passed the work. (as detailed in primary report- from the front seat of his city vehicle Inspector Stuart
Holderby 999 W 7th Place, Junction City, OR 97448 541-998-1997)
Latini then continued to build on top of the unstable flooring, building the walls different widths than the plans. Premium lumber was paid for, and is reflected upon receipts, but the lumber actually used in construction was mostly factory 'outs' as confirmed by Weyerhaeuser Corp, and 2 other authorities. All Lumber was purchased from Gene Stringfield Lumber Company, (Lumber Condition evident in
photo documentation) [Gene Stringfield Lumber Co, 2540 Roosevelt, Eugene OR 97402 541-689-8014] When Lacey built a wall too tall, a chainsaw was then used to 'cut away' more than 4 feet of the wall. Chris spent most of the time off fishing while others did the work, only showing up literally screaming about payments. Constant intrusions upon homeowners workplace with threatening behavior by Latini resulted in Homeowners job loss.
The engineered roof trusses arrived on 6-30-09, they did not fit the framing due to the inconsistent wall width. The Truss Company 29336 Airport Road, Eugene OR 97401 delivered and then worked with Latini to correct the problem. The solution? Latini had his guys take them all apart and 'scab' them together. Photo Documentation proves this.
It was not until the homeowner was contacted by the city building department and the revised plans calling for major changes were picked up and permits reissued on JULY 7th 2009. (Latini represented that these were picked up and followed) Latini & Lacey did not take into account the revised plans, and the building department passed all inspections without noticing how different the structure was from the plan specifications.
4 Weeks after Latini was hired, he was terminated on the grounds of broken contracts and unauthorized work. The house was 'framed' - with windows, doors, roughed in plumbing, electrical, HVAC and roof. The contract that was signed did not give Latini authority to choose the details of the house, yet he
did When materials were delivered and rejected by homeowner, Noah Lacey installed them, ignoring homeowners request.
Mid Valley Glass & Millwork 2630 W 7th, Eugene OR 97402. 541-687-1192 provided Chriss choice of doors and windows, including doors that did not fit the wall widths.
RS Plumbing 86878 Baily Hill Road, Eugene, OR 97405 provided Chriss choice of a bathtub, and plumbing fixtures.
The contract for the HE Gas HVAC system signed by homeowner was broken (by Chris) and an electric 'air handler' was installed in its place for about the same cost - without the heat pump. (HVAC Contractor Climate Control went bankrupt during court proceedings).
Sprinter Electric 82924 Florence Ave,Creswell, OR 97426. 541-895-2207 provided electrical wiring at Latinis direction, even though Sprinters bid was outright rejected by the homeowner. (4 bids were provided, homeowners choice was disregarded.) The wiring was NOT to code, the permit requirements not met, and documented fire hazards were laughed at by Jeremy Cooper, the owner of Sprinter when discussion attempts were made by homeowner. Latini Hired Sprinter directly, total cost of the roughed in wiring that didnt meet the permit specs? More than 8 thousand dollars, complete with fire hazards, NO WIRING DIAGRAMS, and once again, paid in full under threat of physical harm by Latini. (bill was 2 times as much as the homeowners electrical preferred quote) Frank Casebolt of Eugene Building department approved all electrical inspections, and permits were canceled when homeowner reported several branch circuits didnt exist, but had passed inspection. Frank
Casebolt 2487 19th Street, Springfield, OR 97477.
Somehow, the city inspections passed, initially. (All inspections were reversed when it was pointed out to the city that the plans were not approved until 7-9-09 yet the house was built by then, and the engineered roof was never updated to fit the revised wall widths). As the inspections were passed by the city (the only authority over the contractors), Contractors were off the hook hiding behind the city
inspections. Multiple requests made to the city to re-inspect, along with pictures of failing work with Kyle Richardson and Mark Whitmill responding by assuring homeowner of the superior workmanship.
Keating Engineering 156 E 16th Avenue, Eugene OR 97401. 541-242-0613 was retained to evaluate the symptoms of deterioration of the structure in December of 2009. Steve Keating visited the home, and wrote a report concluding that homeowner could confidently occupy the structure. At the time, Steve Keating, a licensed Structural Engineer, declined to look at the plans available and in homeowners hand, instead giving his authoritive opinion on the construction methods.
Homeowners continued requests - via phone and e-mail for repairs and warranty work were ignored, until Latini simply changed his phone number. A break in that left the HVAC unit and ducting seriously damaged; was determined to be civil by the Eugene Police, and a report was not taken. All attempts to report ongoing threatening behavior from contractors was also deemed Civil by Kathy Flynn, EPDs Sergent of violent crimes. Ms Flynn Encouraged Homeowner to 'work out her problems with the City'.
When homeowner legally picketed the City of Eugene and Areas around Latinis home, homeowner was served with a 'stalking citation' for unwanted phone calls & e-mails to Latini. Homeowner was also accused of being present at a school. When allegations were disproved in court, Judge Mitchell of Eugene Circuit Court promptly threw out the citation. Judge Mitchell ordered Latini and his attorney to provide Homeowner with the name of a business representative. Instead, a letter from his attorney that states homeowner will be 'seriously injured or killed' if She came into Chris's presence or the presence of 'others' was received by homeowner the day following the court hearing.
When this letter was presented to the CCB of Oregon who was managing multiple complaints against contractors, it was deemed out of their jurisdiction, and homeowner withdrew all complaints in fear of her families safety.
Walls cracking, roof trusses cracked end-to-end, ceilings dropping as the trusses failed were ongoing symptoms, as were walls dropping where the tar had melted and support was gone. More than 5 thousand pictures tell the story many tried to hide, as the house cracked in half (Latini blamed the drywall contractor), the foundation cracked in more than 20 places from unbalanced loads, the Facia broke away and the electrical wires were pulled so badly they shorted in places.
Contractors personal attacks on homeowner included texts and phone calls calling homeowner 'crazy' 'nuts' and stupid. Threats of personal harm to homeowners family, poisoned family pets and outright property damage became the norm. At no time have any contractors addressed the licensed home inspection building reports on the unsafe workmanship, shoddy construction practices or flat out fraud these contractors practice. No warranty work was ever addressed or completed. The e-mail below
is evident in these types of contractor-homeowner communication.
From: Chris<[email protected]>
Date: September 28, 2010 11:45:04 AM PDT
To:
Subject: Re: Directive
Please be advised that all future contact is unwanted. With yesterday's legal outcome the comunication between the two of us is at an end. Any further comunication will be grounds for legal action as this email is to notify you that I have no wish to speak with you again. Please stop emailing, texting or calling.
Thank you,
Chris
On Sep 28, 2010, at 12:08 PM, xxxxxxxxxxx
wrote:
Mr Latini,
Until you follow the orders of judge mitchell, and provide me with a representative authorized to act upon your behalf in dealing with the business we engaged in, Oregon law requires that as a business, youbmust address my concerns. Your unwillingness to honor your own contracted warranty and services do not negate the business laws of Oregon.
Kind regards,
On Sep 28, 2010, at 12:18 PM, Chris wrote:
We have no business, it's no longer your home. The funds were not yours and your lawsuits are at an end. You are not in a position to ask for funds(as they are NOT yours and if I gave them to you I would be in direct violation of ors) or to ask for work to be performed at 255 Baxter( as it is not in your legal
posession). It's over, move on
Sent Chris Latini/Woodfellas Construction's iPhone
In July of 2010, when consulting with a Reputable Construction Company and their Engineer, it took less than an hour of onsite inspection and plans review before they sat down and gave homeowner the bad news. The only way to fix the home was to raze it and start over. Homeowner spent 210k to rebuild this home (the insurance was only 140k) and it was unsafe, structurally unsound, and again, a total loss. After 2 years of trying to take Her family home, Homeowner walked away and let the bank have it. The brutal tactics were simply to much for the single female parent & homeowner to handle. With the City Officials also attacking homeowner or ignoring pleas for help, the reality that this family could not return to a safe home prevailed.
In total, this family survived a total loss house fire only to be traumatized repeatedly by the governing system in place within Eugene, OR. With a combined loss of more than $400,000.00 owner faces bankruptcy. More than 2 years of fighting to return home brought the bitter reality that in Eugene, homeowners have little hope of expecting safe residential building practices.
This is the System in place within Eugene, OR.