BENTON COUNTY, Ark. — After nearly two years of legal disputes, a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving Dave Marrs, one of the stars of HGTV’s “Fixer to Fabulous,” along with his wife, Jenny. The lawsuit was filed against Marrs’ two companies, Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction, by Matthew and Sarah McGrath, a couple from Bella Vista. This resolution comes just a few days before the case was set to go to trial on January 27.
The legal conflict began when the McGraths alleged that Marrs Construction and Jupiter Rentals had failed to complete promised upgrades on their home, purchasing at a cost of $559,000. The McGraths specifically cited issues such as uninstalled cabinet hardware, broken windows needing repair or replacement, and damaged hardwood floors in the kitchen among other complaints.
According to the lawsuit, by August 28, 2022, the McGraths claimed that none of the listed repairs had been addressed. Subsequent attempts by Marrs’ teams to fix these problems allegedly led to further damages instead of resolutions.
In their legal complaints, the McGraths sought a court judgment against the companies involved, along with coverage for litigation costs. The defendants countered, arguing that the McGraths had denied entry to the property for repairs and inspections, describing the issues as resulting from “unavoidable occurrences.”
Legal negotiations saw a rocky path, including a court-ordered mediation on September 19, 2023, which initially failed. The following months were filled with ongoing evidence gathering and multiple depositions, heightening the dispute. In March 2024, an inspection revealed nearly two dozen code violations in the McGraths’ home, complicating the case further.
Dave Marrs, during a deposition in August 2024, voiced disagreements with contractor assessments about the home’s issues, suggesting that some of the recommended repairs might exacerbate the problems.
The trial, originally scheduled for September 2024, was delayed due to severe tornadoes that impacted Benton County in late May of the same year.
Just days before the rescheduled trial, both parties reached an agreement. A court filing from January 24, 2025, declared that all pending claims in this dispute had been “fully compromised by settlement,” leading to the dismissal of the case, assuming the settlement’s final terms are met.
This legal battle highlights the complexities and challenges homeowners and construction businesses can face in resolving home renovation disputes, especially when involving high-profile personalities.
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