More than a dozen representatives for the residents of the master-planned Sun City Grand community near Surprise Wednesday filed a building and structural defects lawsuit against builder Del Webb Home Construction Inc. and its parent company, Pulte Homes of Bloomfield, Mich.

According to attorney representing them, the homeowners are seeking $100 million to pay for needed repairs in 5,000 homes in the West Valley community, which was built on 3,724 acres off Bell Road and R.H. Johnson Boulevard.

The Miller Law Firm LLP, Scottsdale, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the homeowners. The firm's president and CEO, Tom Miller, said the home owners have been trying to work with Del Webb customer service representatives and they have been told their problems are normal for a new home as it begins to settle on the property over time.

Del Webb officials were not available for comment at the time this story was filed.

"These are real defects that cannot not be addressed simply with caulking, patching them up or painting over them," said Miller.

Miller said problems at the homes include termite infestation, leaky roofs, water entering cracks in foundations.

Miller filed similar lawsuits against Del Webb on behalf of residents in two of its other Valley communities, Anthem and Terravita. The Anthem lawsuit was filed late last year.

The Terravita suit was filed in late 2000 and a judge could rule as early as this Friday whether the 1,360 residents involved have enough evidence to pursue the case on a class-action status.