Standing behind a lectern in the West Side neighborhood, Herrera thundered about KB Home's lack of care in construction that turned the Mirasol homeowners' “American dream of owning a home into a nightmare.”

Arrayed around him were stands that held oversized, full-color pictures of loose roofing, water damage and other alleged cases of poor workmanship.

“This lawsuit will address shoddy construction but it will do more than that,” Herrera said. “We will show that KB Homes never intended to follow the specifications of (San Antonio Housing Authority) architects.

“They said, ‘We're going to do it our way. We build cookie-cutter homes.' They put profits over people. We're going to hold the giant KB accountable and show that even if you happen to be poor, you're entitled to quality construction.”

The homes in the SAHA neighborhood were built in 2000 with $20 million of HOPE VI federal funds and were purchased by low-income, first-time homebuyers.

SAHA initiated legal proceedings against KB Home and Magi Realty in 2007. Its ongoing investigation has found serious construction defects, including improper anchoring of frames to foundations, faulty installation of windows and doors and insufficient application of roofing materials.

To prove his point, Herrera led news conference attendees across the street, where a home that had been “deconstructed” — basically, torn up — revealed a host of construction errors.

SAHA board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos said his organization fully supports the homeowners' lawsuit and will supply Herrera's office with information that SAHA has gathered.

“This is about justice,” he said. “For the homeowners still living here, the biggest concern is their living conditions. It's our job to make sure the public is protected, and we're hoping the individual lawsuits will resolve these issues sooner rather than later.”

In response, KB Home spokeswoman Cathy Teague provided a statement from the company that read: “We have not yet seen the complaints so we unfortunately can't provide a specific response. As a subcontractor, we built the homes at Mirasol based on the plans and specifications approved by SAHA and Magi Realty. Beyond all legal and contractual obligations, we've stood behind SAHA's homes and have worked diligently since 2002 to address the concerns.”

Herrera, who believes the trials will start before the end of the year, said he will ask jurors to assess for punitive damages and mental anguish, in addition to the cost of the homes.

“We're here to tell KB Homes we ain't going away,” Mirasol homeowner Carol Zaragoza said.