Home Builders Are Facing a Torrent of Lawsuits Over Shoddy Construction

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

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Summary

P.M. Edition for May 19. The legal liabilities of some of the biggest home builders in the U.S. have surged in recent years as buyers increasingly sue for what they allege to be shoddier, error-ridden homes. WSJ reporter Nicholas Miller discusses why this is happening more frequently and the impact this is having on the companies’ operations. Plus, a document posted by the Justice Department today says the federal government will end all pending tax audits of President Trump and his businesses. And Carvana, the used-car titan, is expanding into selling new cars. We hear from Journal autos reporter Chris Otts about what this means for traditional auto dealers. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.
0:05.0	Infliction is killing me!
0:08.0	But who cares? Big retailers are making record profits!
0:12.0	That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill!
0:15.0	See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.
0:18.0	This bill would cut the vital resources they need.
0:25.1	While increasing megastore profits, they deserve it. Don't they?
0:29.1	Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall money grab for corporate megastores.
0:31.3	Paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.
0:41.0	Trump endorses Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a tight Texas GOP Senate race.
0:46.3	Plus, some of the biggest home builders in the U.S. are facing more lawsuits over shoddy construction.
0:51.2	Some of the big builders, their reserves for legal liabilities had surged in recent years.
0:54.9	Money that they are kind of setting aside in order to pay for settlements and illegal claims that the homeowners bring against them.
0:58.2	And Spanish authorities say the son of the billionaire founder of the Mango fashion chain
1:02.5	played a role in his death.
1:04.3	It's Tuesday, May 19th.
1:06.2	I'm Alex Osloaf for the Wall Street Journal.
1:08.2	This is the PM edition of What's News, the top
1:11.3	headlines and business stories that move the world today.
1:17.8	First up on today's show, the talks to end the war in Iran. President Trump said yesterday
1:23.0	that he called off a U.S. attack on Iran to make room for negotiations.
1:30.8	Now, we're reporting that progress seems to have stalled out.
	...

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