What Accountability Should Look Like
Originally published on Medium
This final article in my documentation of Rackley Roofing (R.D. Herbert & Sons) in Tennessee focuses on the broader lessons learned — what real accountability should look like when workmanship fails, and why transparency matters more than silence.
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Summary
At some point, the leak stopped being about water and became about answers.
After repeated repairs, ignored evidence, and a settlement offer worth only a fraction of the damage, the question turned from how to fix a roof to how companies should face failure.
This piece outlines a practical blueprint for accountability drawn from firsthand experience with Rackley Roofing:
Acknowledgment — admit the failure openly, not privately.
Repair — replace what was done wrong, not hide it with cosmetic fixes.
Restitution — cover the full cost of the damage caused.
Reform — change the systems that allowed the failure.
It also addresses the familiar defenses — “others leak too,” “we followed scope,” and “settlements are practical” — and explains why those arguments collapse when transparency is missing.
Beyond one leaking roof, the larger issue is systemic. When companies buy silence instead of solving problems, honest tradespeople lose credibility, regulators lose authority, and consumers lose trust.
I chose a different route: declined the gag order, dismissed the lawsuit, filed formal complaints, and kept documenting.
The goal remains simple — not revenge, but reform.
Key Takeaway
Accountability means admitting harm, fixing it fully, and changing the process so the next person doesn’t have to fight as hard.
Ongoing Transparency
Verified documentation continues through the BBB and Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors filings, as well as future updates on Medium and this site.
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