Downey v. Chutehall Construction Co., Ltd.

After a trial, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, Chutehall Construction Co., Ltd. (Chutehall). The plaintiffs, Christopher and Mairead Downey, appeal from the resulting judgment. Their appeal presents a narrow issue — whether a contractor’s potential liability for a violation of the relevant building code, which, pursuant to G. L. c. 142A, § 17(10), constitutes a per se G. L. c. 93A violation, is waived when a homeowner requests that the work be done in a manner that results in the code violation. 2 We agree with the Downeys that, at least in the circumstances of this case, an…