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.

Copyright 2011 by WSMV, The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.