The Miller Law Firm Presents The Jones Memorial United Methodist Church With a $1.9 Million Victory over Construction Defects

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas E. Miller and Rachel M. Miller of The Miller Law Firm presented The Jones Memorial United Methodist Church congregation, Pastor, Staci Current, and the Administrative Board with a check for $1.9 million at Sunday's worship service.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120418/SF89665LOGO-b)

The Church has been located at 1975 Post Street since 1945 and is an integral part of San Francisco's Fillmore and Western Addition districts.  A five million dollar, 30,000 square foot facility was completed in 2002, which was one of the largest church projects in San Francisco at the time.   

After only 9 years, building deficiencies began to appear, including window, door and roof leaks, and resulting mold inside the building.  Defective stucco systems and other exterior building envelope systems showed signs of extensive cracking and water intrusion, and defective concrete began to corrode.  The subterranean garage walls leaked and damaged cars, personal property and the walls themselves.  Waterproofing systems failed, causing leaks and flooding in the Church Sanctuary.

The Church filed their lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court in 2011.  A settlement was ultimately reached through Mediator William L. Nagle with the Church and sixteen parties, including Zurich American and Admiral Insurance Companies and eleven subcontractors.

In a momentous ceremony with the entire Church congregation in attendance, Pastor Staci announced, "Ours has been a journey to justice!  We knew that we needed to have a church building that was safe and structurally sound to accommodate our ministry to the community.  We also knew that the struggle to be made whole would not be an easy one.  But in order to be good stewards of God's resources, it was one that we had to take on.  We were truly gifted, blessed if you will, by having the Miller Law Firm represent us as our advocates and partners.  Their character and competence speaks for itself.  They were untiring in their efforts to reach a resolution that would allow us to continue to be a light in our community.  The result is an amazing victory that will allow us to continue to love and serve all of God's children in the Western Addition and beyond.  After years of dealing with the effects of the construction defects, the outcome feels very redemptive!  To God be the glory!"

Thomas E. Miller, CEO of The Miller Law Firm, states, "Ensuring that the Church would be able to continue its services and important community programs was priority number one during our investigation.  Excellent, independent experts were key in helping us quickly determine the cause of all of the building's repair needs, leading to a successful recovery in under two years."

Rachel Miller, Senior Partner of The Miller Law Firm states, "We always had to balance the needs of the Church's Board to address serious building repairs with the members' needs to have access to their worship services, family programs and community outreach.  The culmination of everyone's hard work came together in Sunday's beautiful service and announcement."

Thomas E. Miller and Rachel M. Miller of The Miller Law Firm (www.ConstructionDefects.com) are the co-authors of, "Home and Condo Defects:  A Consumer Guide to Faulty Construction," (Seven Locks Press, 2012), available online at www.amazon.com.

Media Contact: Rachel Miller
(415) 437-1800
[email protected]

SOURCE The Miller Law Firm