Wow. I’m no help but I’m curious how old is your home? Are you in N. America?

No, you cannot sue the town. Only the builder.

And you can’t even sue them if you arent the original owner who just built it. Used homes should be inspected before being bought. Buyer beware.

House was built in 1988 in Westchester, NY. Home inspection would have never found the issue - the footings are supposed to be 15 feet underground.
I’m so shocked this passed the original inspections when the house was first built.

Kelly:

At 15', you must be thinking your foundation requires caissons due to soil condiions.

Maybe…. Footings are listed on the original foundation plans that I obtained from our Town Hall. Either way, my house is crumbling and I think we are going to be responsible with the biggest bill of our lives.

Can you have the house lifted, so it is nice and level, and then do work that needs to be done for the footings? That would at least help the house stay in decent condition, until it can be set back down on the foundation.

What kind of building requires 15' footings? Are you sure you don't mean 15", as in a warm climate?

Not 15" in Westchester, NY.

"The house is sitting on clay, mud and big rocks. "

I suspect that Joseph is on the right track. And that the OP is confused as to what type of foundation the house is built on.

While we wait for the house crumbling photos....

I dont know if i would buy a house without an inspection, but i do not think they are all that helpful either.

But i am very sorry this happened to you. Life certainly is not fair sometimes.