A Pennsylvania appeals court rules that a home seller was not legally required to disclose a swastika and German war eagle design embedded in a basement floor, determining the symbols do not qualify as “material defects” under state law.
The decision comes after buyers of a Beaver County home said they discovered the tiles only after moving in and argued the seller should have revealed them during the sale.
According to court documents, the buyer initially filed a lawsuit claiming the undisclosed symbols created emotional distress and diminished the property’s value. Judges ruled the seller met all disclosure obligations because the symbols did not affect the home’s structure or systems, which are the categories legally defined as material defects in real estate transactions.
The ruling leaves the buyers responsible for the cleanup or removal of the imagery, though their attorney says they are considering an appeal. The case highlights ongoing debates about nondisclosure laws and the limits of what sellers must reveal to prospective buyers.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube