Home : Celebrity Justice : "Malcolm" Star Sues Over Moldy Home

Celebrity Justice
"Malcolm" Star Sues Over Moldy Home

Posted Apr 11th 2007 6:45PM by TMZ Staff

Justin Berfield, best known for playing Reese on "Malcolm in the Middle," is suing Shell Burton Construction over what he says was faulty work the company did on his Studio City home.
Justin Berfield
In a lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court last October, Berfield alleges that when he went to sell the house, he learned it was infested with mold as a result of indoor planters Shell Burton had installed, and a shoddy remodel Berfield had commissioned from the contractor. Though not alleged in the suit, a source close to the case tells TMZ that Berfield says he was treated by doctors for respiratory problems he suffered while living in the home.

The home itself has a famous ownership history. Shell Burton Construction purchased it from actor George Clooney and then later sold it to "My Name is Earl" actress Jamie Pressly, before Berfield purchased it in 2004.

Berfield is suing for negligence, breach of warranty and breach of contract, and is asking for damages in excess of $1 million.

Shell Burton had no comment.

Tags: justin berfield, JustinBerfield, malcolm in the middle, MalcolmInTheMiddle

Comments [22]
SHARE |
4ie6

Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 2) Previous 15 Comments

16. VAL obviously has mold in his/her home because they have obviously lost their mind from it. Black Mold is very dangerous stuff. There are non toxic types of mold but also toxic ones VAL. Go Google it up :)

Posted at 8:00AM on Apr 12th 2007 by CC

17. Poor Val. You are such a moron! Mold does kill and could have made him very sick and/or dead. He has every right as a consumer to sue. May you get stuck in a house and have some major allergies kick up. Then you'll know what it's really like for some people.

As far as his sexuality goes--who cares! The show rocked! He rocked! Who cares who or what he is. He seems (to the celeb eye) like a decent guy so why all the bashing?

Posted at 7:57AM on Apr 12th 2007 by WhyohWhy

18. well it's in los angeles so what do you expect from the contractor ,i'm sure he had some illegal aliens doing the work for him and so you pay third world wages you get third world construction ,los angeles will it ever learn ,it's no wonder l.a. and the rest of america is increasinly starting to resemble a third world country

Posted at 12:44PM on Apr 12th 2007 by studly

19. how can anyone say he just wants money??????? thats absurd. This kid is a smart one. With all the money he has made over the last 10 years, hes invested into real estate. i think I remember hearing that he owned and rented out like 10 other homes, so I think hes just fine with the money. So dont hate!

Posted at 2:11PM on Apr 12th 2007 by captain tina

20. What ever happened to inocent intil proven gility? Its just one more thing thats been taken away from the american people. As I was reading through the previous comments regarding Justins many other seccessiful real estate investments, and how intelligent and wealthy he is, I find it very unlikely that Jamie Presley of (My Cousin Earl) was able to dump a mold infested house on him. There is a little something called Disclosure, which requires the Realtor to list any and all known problem with the home. There is also the Home Inspectors, Whos job it is to find these problems, And then theres Jason, Justins manager and life partner, who watches over his investments as just one of his many dutys. So for this story to be true, these problems would have gone undetected by all. VERY UNLIKELY

Posted at 6:10AM on Apr 13th 2007 by Honest Contractor

21. exactly, sock to em Justin!! your show rocked and you rock. i love that your fighting for your rights and i especially love hearing about someone who usually stays out of the press! thats the dirt we want to see!!!!

Posted at 4:46PM on Apr 15th 2007 by flyinthesky2

22. WHO IS THIS "HONEST CONTRACTOR"? Looks like the Shells Burtons Construction has their own little comments they wanted to plant on here. Smells and reads like a little angry contractor to me. Justin, you might want to have your attorney look into that post if I were you!!?! He even claims that Jason is your manager/Life partner which is a little strange if he doesnt "know you". Any research will show that Justin's manager is a female named Elissa Fickman and that Justin lives with his girlfriend in Jessica's house. It says on his company website that Jason is his business partner. Hummm, "Honest Contractor", your message smells MOLDY to me!!!

Posted at 4:56PM on Apr 15th 2007 by Lizanne

Previous 15 Comments