LOS ANGELES-In a major victory for the state’s house and condominium builders, the California Supreme Court has ruled that homeowners can no longer sue developers for negligence unless construction defects have caused an injury or demonstrable economic loss.

Until now, a homeowner who found a code violation or other defect could sue as long as the home had been purchased within the last 10 years. The lawsuit could proceed even if the defect hadn’t damaged the property or caused the owner to lose money.

The State Supreme Court ruling, handed down in San Francisco, changes all that. Now, a suit can be filed only if the defect already has caused real damage, either physically or financially.

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