{"id":14153,"date":"2019-05-02T18:43:31","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T18:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/02\/retired-centcom-commanders-lawsuit-against-privatized-housing-owners-gives-validation-to-issue-advocate-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:15:14","slug":"retired-centcom-commanders-lawsuit-against-privatized-housing-owners-gives-validation-to-issue-advocate-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2019\/05\/02\/retired-centcom-commanders-lawsuit-against-privatized-housing-owners-gives-validation-to-issue-advocate-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired CENTCOM commander\u2019s lawsuit against privatized housing owners \u2018gives validation\u2019 to issue, advocate says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A lawsuit filed by the recently retired commander of U.S. Central Command and his wife against privatized housing companies and their contractors shows the problems \u201care pervasive among all levels, from generals and admirals all the way down to E1,\u201d said Crystal Cornwall, executive director of the Safe Military Housing Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt gives validation to all of our young enlisted and young officers who have complained about these housing issues for a long time, and have suffered from some these severe repercussions,\u201d said Cornwall, a Marine Corps wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retired Army Gen. Joseph Votel and his wife Michele are suing five companies, including the owner of privatized housing <\/a>at MacDill Air Force Base, accusing them of negligence in a fire that destroyed virtually all of their belongings. The lawsuit was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Votels lost \u201cirreplaceable and unique furnishings, household goods, art, clothing, jewelry and other items,\u201d according to the lawsuit filed in circuit court in Hillsborough County, Florida, where Tampa is located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fire broke out in their home on Jan. 28, 2017. The Votels were living in temporary lodging at the time, after being forced to leave their home during restoration work when a water leak was discovered in the slab of their home in November, 2016. Except for the essentials they needed in temporary lodging and for travel, virtually all of their possessions remained in their home. The Votels accumulated those possessions during his nearly 39 years of service. He retired from CENTCOM at the end of March. The lawsuit was filed April 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2017 fire was caused by an electrical failure, after a nail was driven through a live electrical line, and fused to the wire, according to an investigation completed by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Tampa Fire Department, the lawsuit stated. The nail caused the electrical line to arc, and ignited the wood frame. The damage to the Votels\u2019 quarters was so severe that the structure had to be totally demolished, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornwall said that it\u2019s her perception that the general\u2019s lawsuit \u201cgives more credibility to what these families have been saying in terms of negligence and poor maintenance.\u201d She said she finds it interesting that he waited until after he retired to file the lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornwall was among the military spouses who testified Feb. 13 before the Senate Armed Services Committee about problems military families have had with mold, vermin, water leaks and other issues. Some problems have arisen because of defects in construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Votel lawsuit will hopefully set a precedent for military families who find that their last recourse in getting help for some of their financial losses they attribute to privatized housing issues, said Amie Norquist, whose husband is a Green Beret soldier stationed at MacDill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m thankful they are doing this because it\u2019s a precedent for other families,\u201d she said, adding that she hopes the Votels \u201cwill be able to gain some peace back in their lives and enjoy their retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Votels\u2019 lawsuit, said Norquist, is an encouragement for other families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s \u201ca way that we can see there\u2019s hope for things we can do for our families,\u201d Norquist said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Norquists moved off base because \u201cwe couldn\u2019t trust that our home would be safe,\u201d she said, and were concerned about sickness in the family they attributed to mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She estimates their financial losses at between $40,000 to $50,000, after having to dispose of mold-contaminated furniture, mattresses and other items, and paying medical copays for numerous doctor visits. All of her four children have had medical issues, she said. Her husband was pulled from deployments as a Green Beret because of the family health issues, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing [the Votels] have to go to the level of filing a lawsuit to actually be reimbursed for their losses,\u201d Norquist said, adding that she and her husband are also considering that as a last resort for reimbursement for their lost property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Votels\u2019 lawsuit was filed in the Hillsborough County, Florida, Circuit Court. Information was not available on the value of the belongings the Votels lost. In order to be under the jurisdiction of the circuit court, the lawsuit must involve amounts of more than $15,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votel declined comment about the lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defendants named in the lawsuit are AMC East Communities, owners of the privatized housing at MacDill AFB<\/a>, and Michaels Management Services, Inc., the property manager, as well as companies that were reportedly contracted to do the work, Damage Recovery, LLC, Fuller Construction Group, LLC, and Dri-Ez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials at AMC East Communities couldn\u2019t immediately be reached for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\t