Builder Settles Lawsuit Over Houses Built Near Former Range

Orlando, Florida Home builder, the Ryland Group settled a three-year old class action lawsuit with 118 homeowners in the Newport subdivision over houses that were constructed adjacent to the former Pinecastle Jeep Range. The homeowners' suit claimed that the builder did not reveal the fact that the area was once a former training range and that the potential for munitions existed. The suit claimed that the subsequent discovery of munitions caused property values to plummet.

The 118 houses involved in the class-action suit will share in the $1.2 million dollar settlement. After attorney's fees, each homeowner will receive between $1,000 to $15,000 depending upon the homes proximity to the former target area, its purchase price and decline in market value.

Eight other class-action suits have been filled by homeowners near the former bombing range. The 12,500-acre Pinecastle range was used in the 1940s for training. The Newport case was filed in April 2008 in state court, but the builder asked for it to be moved to federal court.