Expert at the court criticized the reconstruction of the House at the Black Virgin Mary

Prague - Building expert Jiří Zuska today criticized the reconstruction that the House at the Black Madonna underwent in the early 90s at the court. The expert stated, among other things, that rainwater is leaking through the roof of the cubist cultural monument. Zuska is the author of a new report in a dispute where the Seychellois company WBC Capital is demanding a total of 300 million crowns from the State Cultural Fund in connection with the reconstruction. Zuska estimated the appreciation of the property due to the reconstruction at 19 million. The court is expected to decide on the lawsuit in January.

The lawsuit initially demanded 81.6 million crowns for the reconstruction, but the amount has been significantly increased by late payment interest. In this protracted case, several judgments have already been made, with the latest largely siding with WBC. However, the Prague City Court agreed to the Fund's appeal in January 2016, revoked the verdict, and returned the matter to the District Court for Prague 6 for further proceedings. At the same time, it ordered the exchange of the judge and a new report on how the reconstruction valued the House at the Black Madonna.

Expert Zuska thus examined on-site last year whether the cubist object exhibits defects after the reconstruction completed in 1994 that it should not have and whether these defects affect the value appreciation of the property. In both cases, he concluded that they do. WBC's lawyer today attempted to challenge his expertise, among other things, by pointing out the long time that has elapsed since the repairs. However, Judge Petra Andršová stated that she finds the chosen method objective and that the expert was able to defend his report.

"Defects do not manifest at the time of construction work; they would be obvious defects, but rather over time, and this through accelerated wear or structural failure," explained Zuska in court. He identified the most glaring defect in the examined building as a defect in the roofing. "When I visited the object, I saw that I do not see the proclaimed work there," he added, noting that previous experts had evaluated the reconstruction differently.

The State Cultural Fund refuses to pay the demanded amount, labeling the claim as disputed. According to them, the reconstruction was not duly handed over, and invoices for expenses were not presented. Moreover, the Fund argues that amounts for the use of the house by the contractor should be deducted from the value of the reconstruction, totaling 14 million. They do not want to cover interest, claiming that it would be contrary to good morals, as the alleged delay was not their fault.

The corner building standing between Fruit Square and Celetná Street was reconstructed by Konstruktiva (later KO-Holding), which went into bankruptcy. WBC purchased the claim against the State Cultural Fund from them in 2009 for 4.3 million crowns. Who the ultimate owner of the Seychellois company is not entirely clear. According to earlier information from Lidové noviny, billionaire Petr Speychal is likely behind the firm. He has faced accusations in a tax case involving the engineering company ČKD Praha DIZ since this April.