Lawsuit Filed Against DVC Over Saratoga Springs Refurbishment

[pkrieger2287]

https://dvcfan.com/2020/08/17/lawsuit-filed-against-dvc-over-saratoga-springs-refurbishment/

 

[sethschroeder]

Hmmmmm

Have to see what comes of it. Would damages if awarded be from DVC or specific to SSR owners? Seems like a SSR specific issue.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Seems to me it would be against the management company we pay to run things so logic would dictate that they would be libel for any penalties or judgements. But, we all know how that goes, don't we?

 

[RoseGold]

Seems to me it would be against the management company we pay to run things so logic would dictate that they would be libel for any penalties or judgements. But, we all know how that goes, don't we?

Yes, they are us, but only when we are the ones shelling out cash and they are the ones talking.

I guess SSR's crazy cheap MFs couldn't last forever.

 

[drusba]

For those who may want to read the actual complaint, you can find it here: https://www.****************.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Validus-lawsuit.pdf

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I have to add this or I'm going to bust.

I noticed (though I admittedly caught the tail end of the conversation due to work) that even in today's Dis video, even Pete seemed to believe this. That the company who levied the suit was somehow automatically right. I find that odd. I also find it to be a direct correlation to what seems to be the culture these days. Maybe it's not a good analogy. Maybe this is more black and white and the claim is beyond dispute. I don't know. What I do know is the the court hasn't heard the case yet. There may be more than one side to this story. Usually, there is.

 

[Sandisw]

I have read some but it is odd that the company has its own issues so it will be good to follow via court to hear the actual info from both sides.

 

[RoseGold]

even in today's Dis video, even Pete seemed to believe this. That the company who levied the suit was somehow automatically right. I find that odd.

Suing Disney is such a terrifying, expensive, and career-destroying task that I would think there has to be at least some truth in it. I haven't even read it, and I wasn't there, but it seems like suing would be a REALLY bad idea if it isn't true. Maybe we will know the truth in ten years, and maybe I will have sold my SSR by then.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

It's only suicide if you lose. I doubt they filed suit believing they'd lose.

 

[sethschroeder]

They will "lose" and have $10m show up in their bank account in 24 months time.

 

[The Jackal]

I have to add this or I'm going to bust.

I noticed (though I admittedly caught the tail end of the conversation due to work) that even in today's Dis video, even Pete seemed to believe this. That the company who levied the suit was somehow automatically right. I find that odd. I also find it to be a direct correlation to what seems to be the culture these days. Maybe it's not a good analogy. Maybe this is more black and white and the claim is beyond dispute. I don't know. What I do know is the the court hasn't heard the case yet. There may be more than one side to this story. Usually, there is.

I have read some of the complaint, yes it is one side, but Disney’s side does not seem to be acting in a professional manner and should probably be terminated. I guess it’s a wait and see how this plays out.

 

[akaPluto]

Suing Disney is such a terrifying, expensive, and career-destroying task that I would think there has to be at least some truth in it. I haven't even read it, and I wasn't there, but it seems like suing would be a REALLY bad idea if it isn't true. Maybe we will know the truth in ten years, and maybe I will have sold my SSR by then.

I definitely agree. I'm sure they must have a plethora of evidence and backup to be confident enough to sue Disney. Not to mention, having a lawyer actually take on a case like this and believe they can win (or at least settle). It probably means they have even more ammunition that we haven't even seen the half of yet. You have to be pretty darn confident in what you have (and so does your lawyer) to sue Disney, especially as a smaller or even mid-size company.

Sadly, it's not much of a surprise to me that there are some bullies and awfully unprofessional members of management teams working behind the scenes over there. After some of the stories I've heard from people who currently work, or have previously worked, in different areas of the property (for Disney directly and for other companies that work with Disney), it seems there are some members of management that think they can do whatever they want and treat people however they want because they work for such a large company that no one can go up against. Plus, Disney always sides with their employee, UNLESS its in regards to a customer or guest, but not when it comes to working with other companies they've hired or contracted.

Hopefully, at the very least, this suit will get Disney to make changes for the better and be more aware of how their management teams treat others and take steps to correct it, so other companies don't have to go through this... especially when they don't have the means or backup to stand up for themselves.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

Sadly, it's not much of a surprise to me that there are some bullies and awfully unprofessional members of management teams working behind the scenes over there. After some of the stories I've heard from people who currently work, or have previously worked, in different areas of the property (for Disney directly and for other companies that work with Disney), it seems there are some members of management that think they can do whatever they want and treat people however they want because they work for such a large company that no one can go up against. Plus, Disney always sides with their employee, UNLESS its in regards to a customer or guest, but not when it comes to working with other companies they've hired or contracted.

If the Disney project manager did a fraction of what the complaint alleges he should be fired. How could a person with an obvious lack of basic management skills be in a position to oversee a multi-million dollar renovation for Disney? Obviously there are two sides to this, and I'm sure the contractor was not completely without fault, but its hard to overlook the email evidence they have provided as exhibits in the complaint. It make you wonder if this is how Disney treats all of their contractors. Not good.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

But more importantly, is SSR up to code, or what about other resorts??

 

[NoTime42]

I wonder how much this (the complaints about project managers) played a role in shutting down most WDW construction during the closure?

 

[CarolMN]

If the Disney project manager did a fraction of what the complaint alleges he should be fired. How could a person with an obvious lack of basic management skills be in a position to oversee a multi-million dollar renovation for Disney? Obviously there are two sides to this, and I'm sure the contractor was not completely without fault, but its hard to overlook the email evidence they have provided as exhibits in the complaint. It make you wonder if this is how Disney treats all of their contractors. Not good.

I'm not surprised that the Disney employee would say or do the things he has been accused of doing. I am quite sure it is not an uncommon occurrence in the construction/rehab industry. (I remember very distinctly what it was like in the 70's when I worked in a mostly male environment). However, in this day and age, I am very surprised that anyone would put things like that IN WRITING. He either lives in a cave all by himself or has been promoted beyond his level of incompetence (Peter Principle). If he isn't already, I predict he will be looking for another job very soon, and maybe even a lawyer.

 

[98jackalope]

I read the official lawsuit with great interest because I'm both a Disney fan and a commercial architect. I have to say I agree with Pete's initial reaction. The fire code violation, which was a lack of fire-rated construction in the vertical HVAC shafts (an extremely important fire protection feature that has been in practice for decades), was not something to question or ignore. The GC could not have known about this and it must be corrected for the safety of the occupants. The GC should be compensated. With respect to the owner rep's behavior (see the lawsuit for the sordid details including screen shots of text messages)... um, wow, that is insane and definitely not normal. When I first read/heard about this, I surmised it was a rotten apple project manager at Disney, and I'm even more convinced of that after reading the lawsuit. This is not how owner rep's behave on $44 million projects.

 

[akaPluto]

If the Disney project manager did a fraction of what the complaint alleges he should be fired. How could a person with an obvious lack of basic management skills be in a position to oversee a multi-million dollar renovation for Disney? Obviously there are two sides to this, and I'm sure the contractor was not completely without fault, but its hard to overlook the email evidence they have provided as exhibits in the complaint. It make you wonder if this is how Disney treats all of their contractors. Not good.

It’s pretty well known between the contractors that work at Disney that they all get treated this way. I heard a couple of the other contractors have already contacted the owner in the suit and told her they have her back and are so glad someone is finally doing something because it’s going to end up helping all the other contractors that work with the rooms team. The rumor is the rooms team is just awful to work with and this is a common theme for the contractors there. Also, a source told me the PM for Disney is still on furlough and they tried to demote him but he refused to come back to be demoted. I have a feeling they are trying to figure out how to get him out.

 

[ParrotBill]

It is hard to see Disney coming out clean on this. We have to hope DVC is not self-insured on misconduct of its management or we owners will end up paying for this.