The Two Chicks and a Hammer lawsuit that draws most searches is not a lawsuit in the courtroom sense but a 2022 federal enforcement action: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a $40,000 settlement with the Indianapolis renovation company over alleged violations of federal lead-paint safety rules, and the agency said it identified the violations by watching the company’s HGTV show, Good Bones.
What the EPA Alleged
The EPA alleged that, beginning in 2017, Two Chicks and a Hammer performed or directed renovations at three Indianapolis residential properties built before 1978 without following the federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, known as the RRP Rule.1U.S. EPA. EPA Reaches Settlement With Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc. Two of the homes were in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood and one was in Meridian Highland.2WFYI. Indianapolis-Based TV Show Good Bones Fined for Improperly Handling Lead Paint
According to local reporting, the specific allegations were that the company failed to obtain the required lead-paint certification before performing the work, failed to properly contain lead dust and debris both on site and while hauling waste to the landfill, and failed to ensure workers were trained in lead-safe practices.2WFYI. Indianapolis-Based TV Show Good Bones Fined for Improperly Handling Lead Paint The RRP Rule requires firms working on pre-1978 housing to be EPA-certified, to assign a certified renovator to each site, and to use lead-safe containment and cleaning methods.3U.S. EPA. Enforcement Alert: EPA Enforces Lead Renovation, Repair and Paint Regulations
How the EPA Spotted the Violations
The evidence came from the show. The EPA said it identified the alleged violations because they were depicted on episodes of Good Bones. EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said many viewers watch renovation programs “for tips on remodeling their own homes” and that it was “extremely important for these shows to demonstrate lead-safe work practices.”4Fox 59. Two Chicks and a Hammer Settles Alleged Lead Paint Violations The agency noted it had reached similar RRP settlements with other television-linked companies, including Magnolia Homes, Texas Flip N Move, Rehab Addict, and Bargain Mansions.1U.S. EPA. EPA Reaches Settlement With Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc.
Settlement Terms
The matter was resolved through a Consent Agreement and Final Order filed under docket number TSCA-05-2022-0004.5IndyStar. Good Bones HGTV Show Indianapolis Company Lead Paint Law Violation The agreement was dated March 31, 2022, and the EPA announced it publicly on April 8, 2022.1U.S. EPA. EPA Reaches Settlement With Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc. The company neither admitted nor denied the allegations.
The settlement required the company to:
- Pay a $40,000 civil penalty, which EPA records show was paid by April 26, 2022, when the docket was closed.6U.S. EPA. TSCA-05-2022-0004 Docket
- Obtain RRP firm certification and certify it was in compliance with the rule.1U.S. EPA. EPA Reaches Settlement With Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc.
- Produce a video about renovations involving lead-based paint, primarily featuring Mina Starsiak Hawk, and post a separate social media video about protecting children from lead exposure.7Deadline. Good Bones Fined by US EPA Over Lead Paint, Reaches Settlement
How the Penalty Compares
The $40,000 figure was modest by RRP enforcement standards. Home Depot paid $20.75 million for RRP violations in 2021, and the EPA has assessed six-figure penalties against various franchise operators for similar infractions.3U.S. EPA. Enforcement Alert: EPA Enforces Lead Renovation, Repair and Paint Regulations Statutory penalties under the rule can reach $37,500 per violation per day.8AGC. LRRP Rule Summary
Other Legal Matters People Ask About
No civil lawsuit against Two Chicks and a Hammer beyond the EPA settlement is documented in the available reporting. A few adjacent disputes sometimes get conflated with a lawsuit but were not litigation:
Starsiak Hawk publicly accused Indianapolis city planning departments of hindering her work through permit denials on building heights, setbacks, and exterior materials, and said the company was phasing out Marion County projects in favor of Zionsville and Martinsville. The city said permitting decisions were “made without bias.”9Inside Indiana Business. Star of Good Bones Show Says City Officials Hampered Her Work No court filing arose from that dispute.
After Karen E. Laine retired from day-to-day operations in late 2019, Starsiak Hawk bought out her mother’s financial interest and became the sole owner.10Indianapolis Business Journal. Good Bones Series Will Not Continue After New Season, Co-Star Announces The relationship later became strained and Starsiak Hawk described it in 2023 as “complicated,” but no legal dispute between the two over the buyout has been publicly reported.11House Beautiful. Mina Starsiak Hawk Mom Karen E. Laine Feud