PITTSBURGH — With the Pittsburgh Steelers record at 0-4 and in the basement of the AFC North, it has been a difficult year for offensive coordinator Todd Haley. And now Target 11 has learned that Haley is facing trouble off the field. A home builder has filed a civil lawsuit against Haley, accusing him of backing out of a million-dollar house deal, and then trashing the home.
Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle obtained a copy of the lawsuit filed by Williamson and Jefferson Inc. against Todd Haley and his wife, Christine.
From the outside, it's a picture of beauty. A million-dollar mansion on Hunters Path Lane in Upper St. Clair. But from the inside, pictures obtained by Target 11 reveal the ugly side of a lawsuit involving Todd Haley.
The photos are all part of the suit filed by Williamson and Jefferson Inc. The builder contends the Haleys removed appliances and fixtures and left the property in "disarray and ... unmarketable for sale," after he kicked out the couple this past August.
It all began a year ago, when according to the civil lawsuit filed in Allegheny County, the builder claims the Haleys agreed to rent this brand new home for $6,000 per month until their home in Mission Hills, Kansas, sold. Then, according to the suit, the Haleys would purchase the home in Upper St. Clair.
But the builder contends the Haleys failed to disclose that their Kansas home actually sold in March. Then, three months later, the Haleys asked for an extension of the rental agreement, citing legal issues involving the sale of their house in Kansas, where Todd Haley had been the head football coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to an email included in the lawsuit filing, Christine Haley claimed that the buyers of their home in Kansas claimed the home was infested with spiders and that they wanted a full refund. Haley said in the email that it was not infested when she lived in the home.
The local builder refused the extension request and ordered the Haleys out in August of this year. That's when, according to the lawsuit, the builder found the home stripped of fixtures, appliances and plants, shrubs and landscaping.
Haley's attorney, James McLean said, “The items removed from the house were all appliances and improvements the Haleys had paid for and installed when the work was not done by the builder, and the removal was done by professional contractors. The builder has also refused to return a $62,000 deposit owed to the Haleys.”
The builder contends that the Haleys failed to pay the final purchase agreement deposit of $17,500. According to the lawsuit, Christine Haley told the builder that she was waiting for a "big federal tax check" from the government.
"The Haleys dispute the claims alleged by Williamson and Jefferson Inc. as baseless, will vigorously defend themselves against the claims in the lawsuit and have asserted claims of their own against Williamson and Jefferson,” said McLean.
According to the lawsuit, Williamson and Jefferson Inc. is seeking money to cover losses.
Haley's attorney told Target 11 that both sides have now agreed to submit the dispute to mediation. If that doesn't resolve the matter, Haley's attorney said that he would then file a countersuit against the builder.
Target 11 also contacted the attorney representing the home builder, and is waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, a spokesman said the Pittsburgh Steelers had no comment.
Target 11 also asked Haley's attorney and the Steelers if Haley wanted to talk about this legal issue, but has not yet heard back from either party.
WPXI
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