Rihanna's Beverly Hills Home Defect Case Gets Split Decision in Countersuit

Singer Rihanna received a split decision Friday in her bid to persuade a judge to toss allegations filed against her in a countersuit stemming from a home defect case related to a $6.9 million Beverly Hills mansion she bought in July 2009.

The 8,520-square-foot, three-story contemporary home includes a media room, three fireplaces, eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a swimming pool, and sits on a gated estate of more than three-quarters of an acre, according to the Daily Mail.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos said LaRocca Inspection Associates can move forward with a breach-of-contract claim against the singer, but not two other claims requesting indemnity.

The countersuit stems from a complaint the singer filed last Aug. 31 regarding the home, which she alleges had construction defects. The suit names several defendants, including Prudential California Realty and LaRocca Inspection Associates.

The Barbadian singer filed the complaint under her real name, Robyn Fenty. She alleges negligence, fraud and breach of contract. The 24-year-old entertainer maintains the home had numerous problems with water leakage and that severe flooding occurred during a January 2010 storm.

Rihanna hired LaRocca Inspection Associates in August 2009 to do an analysis of the property for any needed repairs by the owners. She alleges they did not make sure water seepage problems from a balcony were fixed before escrow closed.

LaRocca countersued Rihanna and the other defendants on Jan. 18. LaRocca alleges the "Umbrella" singer breached their contract by not coming forward sooner and letting them know her problems with their work and give them a chance to do another inspection.

"The allegations are sufficient to establish that [Rihanna] breached her contractual duties after she learned of the defects in her home," Palazuelos wrote in denying the singer's motion to dismiss the contract claim.

LaRocca also maintained it was entitled to compensation from its co-defendants if Rihanna recovers any damages against the property inspection firm. However, Palazuelos dismissed that part of the case, saying there was no way the indemnity claims could be successfully amended.

Rihanna put the Beverly Hills mansion back on the market in November 2011 for $4.5 million, according to AOL Real Estate.

This article was compiled with information from City News Service. 

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