Entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril, faced issues with his luxury mansion’s car elevators after filing a lawsuit against the elevator contractor and the construction company. Luckey claimed that the elevators were faulty and had trapped multiple occupants, including himself, for extended periods of time. The lawsuit alleges that the property is now “uninhabitable and unusable” and that Luckey has incurred millions of dollars in damages as a result of the malfunctioning elevators.
Luckey, who is estimated to be worth $2.3 billion, purchased the property in 2017 for $3.8 million and filed permits for demolition and rebuilding in 2018 and 2020, respectively. The new structure was designed to accommodate his collection of automobiles, which includes a 1969 Ford Mustang, a military surplus Humvee, and a 1967 Disneyland Autopia car, among others. Luckey also owns a collection of helicopters, a missile base, and a former U.S. Navy speedboat.
Despite the city inspectors signing off on the building’s completion in 2023, Luckey’s lawsuit claims that the construction company and elevator specialist failed to deliver on their contract. The elevators, which were meant to move his car collection between different levels of the building, were deemed unsafe, too slow, and not up to the standard specified in the contract. Luckey was billed for elevators that were bought pre-fabricated from an online merchant in China, rather than being handcrafted as specified.
Custom Cabs and WT Durant, the elevator contractor and construction company, respectively, have denied Luckey’s allegations and filed a motion to strike his claims. The case is ongoing, with Luckey seeking damages for the malfunctioning elevators that have rendered his property unusable. Luckey’s lawyer, David Peck, stated that the elevators were a central feature of the residence and were crucial for moving vehicles around the multiple levels of the building.
Luckey’s lawsuit sheds light on the challenges faced by wealthy individuals when it comes to building and maintaining luxury properties. Despite their vast resources, they are not immune to construction and design flaws that can disrupt their daily lives. The outcome of this legal battle will have implications for both Luckey and the companies involved in the construction and installation of the faulty elevators.
