Orphans sue home makeover show

FIVE orphaned siblings who moved into a new dream home on the American hit television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition are suing the ABC network, the company that built the house and the couple who took them in after their parents died.

The children range in age from 15 to 22. They claim that after Extreme Makeover built a new nine-bedroom mansion for them to live in with Phil and Loki Leomiti, the Leomitis engaged in “an orchestrated campaign” to drive them away by insulting them and treating them poorly. Their complaint alleges fraud and breach of contract. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The children ultimately moved out of the Leomitis’ home in Santa Fe Springs, California, south-east of Los Angeles, and are living separately with friends, said Charles Higgins, the eldest sibling.