CHICAGO—A Chicago property firm is suing Zuniga’s Plumbing, claiming its negligence caused a wall to collapse on property it was hired to help renovate.
Vargas Properties LLC filed a lawsuit on Jan. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against Zuniga’s Plumbing Inc., alleging breach of contract and breach of implied warranty of workmanship.
According to the complaint, Vargas hired Zuniga’s Plumbing to help renovate property it bought in July 2015 with the intent of raising the basement ceiling height by a foot. Zuniga’s task, the suit says, was to install interior draintile around the building’s perimeter, excavate a depth of 18 inches, and install 4 inches on the bottom and top of pipe.
Instead of excavating along the foundation wall in staggered 5- to 7-foot sections, as the permit and architect recommended, the suit says Zuniga’s Plumbing excavated the entire south foundation wall, a length of 40 feet, causing it to collapse the morning of Jan. 8.
Vargas Properties seeks damages in excess of $75,000, plus litigation costs. It is represented by attorney Donald J. Angelini Jr. of Angelini & Ori LLC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2016-L000692