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Exasperated homeowners still waiting for hail damage repairs nearly two years after huge storm

Lawsuit goes to trial in March of 2020
Posted at 8:35 PM, Jan 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-03 22:35:19-05

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WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -- Residents who live at Garrison Village in Wheat Ridge can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, but they are not happy.

Their homes were heavily damaged during a hailstorm on May 8, 2017.

Repairs were made to the roofs, but the west facing siding and shattered windows are still covered with tarps and plywood.

“It looks bad,” said Tyree Dingle, one of the condo owners. “I want to get somebody moving on it to get these tarps and windows fixed.”

Repair work has bogged down because of a dispute between the HOA, Hammersmith Management, and the Insurance Company, Maxum Indemnity Company.

Federal Lawsuit

The case has ended up in U.S. District Court.

Legal documents show that both sides hired their own experts, and those experts disagree on the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

Contac7 reached out to both Hammersmith Management and to Maxum Indemnity Company.

The Director of Community Engagement at Hammersmith, Leslie Johnson, said there “was a mediation on December 19, but no resolution.” She said the Insurance Company isn’t covering all the damages.

Maxum, which is based in Alpharetta, Georgia, has not yet replied to a request for comment.

We will update this story if it does.

Trial Date in 2020

Court documents indicate that a trial date has been set for March 16, 2020.

Exasperated residents can’t believe they have may have to wait another 14 months, or more, for a resolution.

“We had people over for Christmas and Thanksgiving and New Year’s,” Dingle said, “and they’re like, ‘isn’t this fixed yet? It’s been almost two years.’”

Neighbor Erica Bohl said she’s concerned about moisture getting behind the damaged siding and causing mold.

“We just want it fixed so it looks like a livable house,” she said.

Mr. Dingle’s daughter, Nicole, said she’s tired of looking at the shredded tarp dangling on the exterior of her west facing wall, and breaking up into single threads which have blown onto her lawn.

“There’s a bunch of shredded tarp everywhere,” she said. “I got tired of picking it up. You can see little pieces here. It’s just hard to pick up. They don’t care.”