By now you should be aware of the class action settlement between Otsuki Cieslak Revocable Trust, et al., v. Gentry Homes, Ltd, et al. regarding hurricane straps installed during the construction of your home. The Court appointed SageWater to serve as the contractor to make the Court-approved repairs of 74 Gentry homes at no cost to those owners. If you are a Gentry Homeowner with one of the 74 qualifying homes with hurricane straps installed in your home, you are automatically entitled to the repairs under this settlement.

Background on the settlement

This class action settlement resulted from alleged defects in the hurricane straps installed during construction of your home. The class action claimed that the straps used on your home may not be effective in the event of a significant wind event or hurricane. As a member of the settlement, you are entitled to, among other benefits, have SageWater install a new anchor bolt system and perform concrete repair work at no cost to you.

The claims about the hurricane straps

Hurricane straps are metal brackets used to secure your home to its concrete foundation. The class action claimed that the straps used in the construction of the qualifying Gentry homes were and are rusting, which may weaken their ability to perform as intended, and can also lead to concrete spalling (or cracking) around the area of the strap, further reducing their effectiveness to protect your home in the event of a significant wind event or hurricane. The class action claimed that installing new anchor bolts and repairing concrete damaged by the hurricane straps will improve the structural integrity and safety of your home.

The process for installing new anchor bolts

The Court selected SageWater as the single vendor to complete the repairs under the Gentry Homes Class Action Settlement. We will be handling the entire process, from scheduling and notifying homeowners and residents about when the work will be completed, to performing the repairs, and ensuring proper permits, inspections, and homeowner approvals are all completed in a timely manner.

Claiming your benefits

Qualifying Gentry Homeowners with hurricane straps installed in their homes are entitled to these repairs at no cost. There’s nothing required for qualifying Gentry Homeowners to claim their benefits. All they have to do is simply register to begin their repair process.

Working with SageWater

SageWater is Hawaii’s leading class action construction defect and repair contractor. The SageWater team has supported class action and insurance claims administrators with construction repairs ranging from defective plumbing to improperly installed fire and smoke barriers to fire and flood damage repairs, including the successful completion of structural repairs for thousands of Hawaii homes.

SageWater understands that any construction project on your home can be an imposition, and we have developed an expert protocol for communicating with residents and homeowners to make the renovation process as simple and hassle-free as we can. The SageWater Project Manager will be there to assist you and answer your questions every step of the way.