NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Supreme Court is considering a case that could change a homeowner’s ability to recover damages when a subcontractor botches a home repair or remodeling job.

Legal experts say that because home repairs are often subcontracted to laborers who lack insurance, a decision that lets the general contractor off the hook could make collecting damages harder.

The case involves a Hamilton County couple whose house was destroyed by a fire while a subcontractor was fixing their roof.

The couple’s insurance company sued the owner of the roofing company to collect $800,000 in damages. A Hamilton County judge said the contractor shouldn’t be held responsible for what the subcontractor did.

Last year the Tennessee Court of Appeals overturned the decision, finding the general contractor responsible.

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