WILLINGTON — While visiting Saturday with homeowners affected by crumbling foundations, U.S. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy called out insurance companies for not covering failing concrete.

Murphy said the legal system and insurance companies are in place “to make you whole” when residents are faced with life-altering circumstances resulting from faulty products, but “both of them are failing.”

“If your foundation isn’t part of your home, I don’t know how you can call it a homeowners policy,” Murphy said.

Homeowner Timothy Heim, the president of Connecticut Coalition Against Crumbling Basements, agreed, and said that at least 10 out of the 15 houses in his neighborhood are affected by failing concrete foundations.

“They are intentionally, knowingly, deliberately dragging this on and bullying the people that they are obligated to pay under contract,” Heim said of the insurance companies. “It is absolutely criminal.”
Murphy questioned the point of entering into an insurance policy if major problems are not covered.
“Why pay insurance if it never pays out?” Murphy wondered. “Where’s all the money going if they’re not ever paying claims?”

After viewing Heim’s foundation, Murphy sat with him and others affected to discuss the problem.
“To see it in person is pretty stunning,” Murphy said. “I have no idea what I would do. You’re trapped with nowhere to go.”

Some homeowners, including Sandi Miller, have been forced out of their homes and are now burdened with additional financial responsibilities, including paying a mortgage on a house that is uninhabitable and un-sellable.

Sheila Cyr said she received a quote of more than $240,000 to replace her foundation, and Heim said his home will cost about $200,000 to fix.

“We don’t have that money,” he said. “We’re at a financial standstill. Where is the help from our elected officials? What steps are being taken to help?”

Murphy assured those present that he would do everything in his power to assist those in need.
“I want to help you because it’s the right thing to do,” Murphy said. “I’ll go to work.”

Heim purchased his home about nine years ago, and last spring first noticed the cracking, which “is getting worse by the day,” he said.

“Eventually, it’s just going to cave in and collapse,” Heim said.

Although there are about 170 people who have filed a complaint with the state, Murphy said there could be thousands, many of whom have no idea they have a problem.

While the cause has yet to be determined, many affected homeowners believe it is the result of faulty concrete supplied by Stafford-based J.J. Mottes.

“I know for a fact that this was poured by J.J. Mottes,” Heim said.

Company spokesman John Patton has insisted the company’s concrete is not to blame, but rather the manner in which it was installed.

Furthermore, Patton says that pyrrhotite — a mineral some believe is the cause of the failing concrete — also is not to blame.

Although the root of the problem won’t be determined until a Department of Consumer Protection investigation is complete, the culprit could still be lurking in concrete currently being poured, leading some to believe the issue might go on for decades.

“This is only the beginning,” Heim said. “Eastern Connecticut is blemished.”

In order for the state to better understand the scope of the issue, Murphy stressed the importance of filing a complaint with the DCP.

“What scares me is the unknown scope of this,” Murphy said. “We have got to go and get more people to register.”

The DCP is expected to have preliminary results of core sample tests available by the end of the month, at which time the coalition will be hosting another informational and instructional meeting.

Heim once again urged Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to attend one of the coalition meetings.
“Everybody’s been here except for Governor Malloy,” he said.