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Tarrant County jury awards family $21.6 million for home construction defects

A Tarrant County jury awarded Ronny and Mandy McCoy $21.6 million after finding NAE Enterprises liable for construction defects in their home. The defects included improperly installed plumbing vents in the attic that allowed sewer gas to circulate inside, along with mold and moisture problems. The jury found NAE Enterprises responsible for negligence, breach of implied warranty, and knowing and intentional violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Where
Tarrant County
When
Oct. 15, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets

Counties: Tarrant

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Judgment$21.6 million1 2 Who pays or receives it: NAE Enterprises
  • Punitive/exemplary damages$10 million1 2 Who pays or receives it: NAE Enterprises

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Ronny McCoyplaintiff
  • Mandy McCoyplaintiff
  • NAE Enterprisesdefendant, contractor
  • NAE Contractingbusiness name used by NAE Enterprises
  • Dauenhauer & Associatesdefendant
  • Ricky Dauenhauerdefendant
  • Just Well Lawattorneys for McCoys
  • Sabine Wakimattorney for McCoys

The facts

  • Jury verdict returned Tuesday after about two hours of deliberation in 67th District Court.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • NAE project manager dismissed family's odor concerns before closing in November 2018.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Plumber discovered improperly installed plumbing vents in attic in June 2024.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Family evacuated on advice of Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Jury assigned NAE Enterprises 77% responsibility, Dauenhauer & Associates and Ricky Dauenhauer each 10%.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Jury found knowing and intentional violations of Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Trial began Oct. 5 in Tarrant County's 67th District Court.2
  • Gross negligence finding and exemplary damages award were unanimous among jurors.1 2 Stated by 2 sources

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • McCoy family attorneys Home remains uninhabitable; family living in RV on property.2
  • Sabine Wakim, McCoy attorney NAE did not deliver on families' expectation that homes be built safely and to code.1

Where the sources disagree

  • Mold levels in master closet 7 million spores per unit per source [2]; source [1] does not provide specific number

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • North Texas family awarded $21.6 million after sewer gas, mold forced them from home

    Dallas News

  • Texas family wins $21.6M over new home they can't live in

    Chron

Sources

Outlets: 2 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. North Texas family awarded $21.6 million after sewer gas, mold forced them from home Dallas News Not rated, October 15, 2026
  2. Texas family wins $21.6M over new home they can't live in Chron Not rated, October 16, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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