11 Aug 2021
CRIDGE v STUDORP LIMITED [2021] NZHC 2077
- Citation
- [2021] NZHC 2077
- Court
- High Court
Court found that while manufacturers of cladding owe a duty of care to homeowners, the plaintiffs failed to establish that Harditex or the Harditex system was inherently defective or unfit for purpose; comprehensive building science evidence (drainage/drying behaviour, decay resistance) and testing did not support the homeowners' primary causation theory; many failures were attributable to design choices, deficient site workmanship, non-compliance with standards and maintenance deficits; JHTIs (from 1991 and especially 1998) were not shown to be so inadequate as to constitute a breach; Fair T…