Home remodeler Kevin Link brought back into suit
After a year-and-a-half on the outside of a strange case involving the house at 9 Briarcliff Dr. in Granite City, Kevin Link finds himself right back in it.
Madison County Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian has allowed plaintiff Armettia Peach to reinstate Link as a defendant in a suit she filed last year.
Peach's complaint, filed by Thomas Maag of the Lakin Law Firm in Wood River, charged that Link performed cosmetic repairs that hid defects in the home.
Peach also sued Granite City, charging that it should not have issued an occupancy permit for the property.
She claimed that water leaked through the roof and damaged the house.
Link responded to the suit and Granite City did not. Peach moved for default judgment against the city. She conditionally dismissed Link.
Matoesian granted default judgment against Granite City on July 1, 2004. He awarded Peach the cost of the house, the cost of repairs, and a fee for Maag, for a total of $104,259.17.
Granite City moved in November to vacate the judgment.
In March, The Record reported that Peach did not buy the house from Link. County records showed Link sold it to Chad Carpenter, who signed it over to Peach seven months later on a quit claim deed with no money changing hands.
In August, Matoesian vacated the default judgment. Maag moved to reinstate Link as a defendant, stating that he would pursue relief from both Link and the city.
Maag, who has appealed Matoesian's decision to vacate judgment, also filed an affidavit of Peach stating that she paid for the house but concealed her ownership to avoid an ex-boyfriend who abused her.