Woman sues Orkin over termites

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A Port Richey woman whose house became infested with termites is suing Orkin Exterminating Service for failing to detect and treat the house for termites.

Patricia League said in her lawsuit, filed last week in Pasco Circuit Court, that Orkin employees who serviced her house assured her that the place was termite-free.

The problem was not discovered until after League had a contract to sell her house, said her attorney, Daniel Clark of Tampa. A home inspection revealed widespread termite damage, and the prospective buyer backed out of the contract, Clark said.

Clark's Tampa firm also represents plaintiffs in a class-action suit against Atlanta-based Orkin. But League's house, he said, "is the most extensive case of termite damage I have ever seen. The house is literally crumbling."

League has since moved out of the Regency Park house and now lives with her daughter in Maryland.

Clark said the lawsuit seeks to force Orkin to pay the full cost to repair the house. Clark estimated the repairs would cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

Orkin spokeswoman Martha Craft said the company offered to pay for League's repairs, and League appeared satisfied with the company's response. "We were stunned by the lawsuit," Craft said.

Clark said Orkin offered to do about $5,000 in repair work, an offer he called "ridiculous."

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