Sec. 2. (a) At least sixty (60) days before filing a construction defect action against a construction professional, the claimant must serve written notice of claim on the construction professional. The notice of claim must state that the claimant asserts a construction defect claim against the construction professional and must describe the claim in reasonable detail sufficient to determine the general nature of the defect.

(b) Within twenty-one (21) days after service of a notice of claim under subsection (a), the construction professional must serve a written response on the claimant. The written response must do one (1) of the following:

(1) Propose to inspect the residence that is the subject of the claim and complete the inspection within a specified time frame. A response made under this subdivision must include the statement that the construction professional shall, based on the inspection, offer to remedy the defect, compromise by payment, or dispute the claim.

(2) Offer to compromise and settle the claim by monetary payment without inspection. A construction professional's offer under this subdivision may include, but is not limited to, an express offer to purchase the claimant's residence that is the subject of the claim and to pay the claimant's reasonable relocation costs.

(3) State that the construction professional disputes the claim and will neither remedy the construction defect nor compromise and settle the claim.

(c) If the construction professional terminates a proposal or offer under section 3(c) of this chapter, the claimant may bring an action against the construction professional for the construction defect claim described in the notice of claim.

(d) A home owner is not required to serve an additional written notice for any additional defects discovered after the home owner has served an initial written notice of a construction defect in accordance with this section.

As added by P.L.134-2003, SEC.1.