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"ER" Doc Sues; Claims Contractor Nailed Him

Posted Apr 12th 2007 7:24PM by TMZ Staff

Actor Mekhi Phifer claims his former contractor didn't live up to code, so now it's code red in court.

In a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the "ER" doc claims he paid a construction company a bundle back in 2003 to increase the height of a block wall on his property and to remodel a carport. Phifer says the company never got the proper permits and violated the building code. City inspectors arrived last year with bad news -- either get the proper permits or, in classic Ty Pennington form, take down that wall! -- and carport.

Phifer says it will cost 95 grand to undo the mess. He's suing for $161,000.

Calls to the construction company were not immediately returned.

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16. #19 THIS AIN'T NO MINDLESS ACTOR. YOU NEED TO QUIT HATIN' & GET A LIFE. HE IS A GOOD ACTOR & FINE AS HELL. HE AS EVERY RIGHT TO SUE. OF COURSE U WOULD NOT KNOW, LOSER!!!

Posted at 2:24AM on Apr 13th 2007 by cleveland1

17. I see white folk are still mad that OJ slayed one of their blue eyed she devils,go back to Europe cave bitches

Posted at 5:31AM on Apr 13th 2007 by Roscoe jones

18. Why is he sueing for so much more? The cost to tear it down and replace, is a lot less then he is asking for. Seems to me like he worked out a deal with the contractor before, that is why he got it cheaper. Then a neighbor probably turned him in, the inspector came out and fined him. Now, they all dont know what happened???

No one is that stupid.

Posted at 7:38AM on Apr 13th 2007 by Kris

19. BORING!

Posted at 8:09AM on Apr 13th 2007 by g-man

20. No, I doubt he can "write it off on his taxes," as this is the kind of loss consumers have to bear themselves unless they can recover the damages in settlement or litigation. I would not be surprised if the contractor had an arbitration clause and that the case may not ever get to court because of that. It doesn't matter that he may be a wealthy TV star...if he was wronged by someone he should have the same rights to fair compensation as anyone else. Otherwise it's just letting bad contractors get away with it, so they can more easily screw the next customer--which might be YOU! FEW people can even afford to sue a contractor, so this TV star may be doing other, less fortunate, consumers a favor. Though he can probably afford quality legal help, most pepole can't. He should check out HADD.com and see how big this problem is nationwide.

Posted at 7:16PM on Apr 13th 2007 by CS

21. Re: the person who asked, "Why is he sueing for so much more?" The cost to do repairs is only PART of what it costs to go after someone when they've caused you to have damages. There are expert's fees, legal fees, court fees, lost time/wages, etc. It's a total myth that you can just walk into court and get a jackpot award, or that it's easy. In real life, suing anyone for anything costs you money, with no guarantee of winning or collecting, even if you are completely in the right and the other guy's completely in the wrong. State laws often cap awards or restrict recovery of even legal fees, depending on the state. Before anyone assumes it's a piece of cake to sue, or that someone's suit is frivolous, I would suggest they try going thru the legal system with a valid lawsuit and see how it actually works.

Posted at 7:15PM on Apr 13th 2007 by CS

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