The creators and producers of “Duck Dynasty” will have to arbitrate at least part of a $3 million lawsuit they filed against entities they allege are responsible for poor work during the renovation of their Manhattan Beach home, a judge ruled.
Scott and Deirdre Gurney filed the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit last Oct. 18 and amended it on Feb. 19, adding the Ginkgo Group LLC to such previous defendants as M1 Construction Corp., The Right Choice Heating and Air Inc., Expert Tile and Granite Inc. and Redraw Inc. The couple allege negligence as well as breach of contract of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
On Thursday, Judge Steve Cochran granted Ginkgo’s motion to compel arbitration and scheduled a status conference for Feb. 24, 2026. In his court papers, Gingko’s attorney maintained the plaintiffs were bound under a written agreement to arbitrate any disputes with the company.
In their suit, the Gurneys allege they were substantially overcharged for labor and materials and costs were billed at inflated rates to obtain a hidden profit. In early 2023, designer and builder Gavin Brodin, with whom the Gurneys were working on the couple’s home renovation plans, recommended the Gurneys use Ginkgo Group to construct the improvements, but Gingko was actually unlicensed in the state and the company entered into a February 2023 agreement with M1 to be the Gurneys’ general contractor, the suit states.
The Gurneys allege M1 was responsible or subcontractors working under their supervision. The Gurneys began seeing defects in the spring of this year, including defective floors, according to the suit, which states the floors are not level, that there are color problems, that excess glue was used and is visible and that boards squeak under pressure.
The suit also alleges M1 failed to comply with its obligations to oversee that proper work was done on framing and drywalling, installation of new floor heating in the family room and kitchen as well as cabinetry, stone and tile work.
“The kitchen cabinets and millwork are unacceptable,” the suit states. “Almost all cabinets are the wrong color.”
In his previous court papers, an M1 attorney denies all of the Gurneys’ allegations.
Duck Dynasty was a reality television series that aired on A&E in 2012-17. The series portrayed the lives of the Robertson family, who became successful from their family-operated business, Duck Commander.