A couple in North Carolina is suing HGTV series "Love It or List It" after a renovation on their Raleigh property went wrong.
Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan sought the help of HGTV reality show "Love It or List It" when they decided to renovate a rental property they had in Raleigh, North Carolina. The premise of the program is simple: homeowners will have their home revamped and at the same time be shown other homes for sale in the area. According to Zap 2 It, the owners will then choose to whether "love" their newly-renovated home or opt to "list it."
In the lawsuit filed by Murphy and Sullivan with the Durham County Superior Court, the end result of the program caused big problems for their family for which they seek to be indemnified. The defendants in the suit are Big Coat TV, the Canada-based firm that produces the show, and North Carolina contractor Aaron Fitz Construction.
Miami Herald reported that the couple cited breach of contract, unfair trade practices that violate the state's general contract laws and the show's "bizarre" business model as their causes of action. James White, the complainants' lawyer, declined to comment further on the facts of the case as they have signed a confidentiality agreement with the show.
Maria Armstrong, the Chief Executive Officer of Big Coat TV, said the company is "aware of the lawsuit." Armstrong also declined to comment on the proceedings, but said that the company intends to "vigorously defend what we consider to be false allegations," Fox News reported.
Murphy and Sullivan contend that the "Love It or List It" hired a contractor that was not the couple's first choice, and they had voiced out their concern over his employment. It was also alleged that the couple deposited $140,000 to cover the renovation, but only a budget of $85,786.50 was given to the contractor to do the work.
According to the couple, the flooring on the house was left "irreparably damaged" and there were holes on the floor "through which vermin enter the house."
Sullivan and Murphy's renovation was shown on episode 152 of "Love It Or List It."
