Heavy equipment mover sues competitor

GRETNA – A New Orleans-based heavy equipment contractor is suing one of its competitors for hiring one of its owners..

Machinery Movers of New Orleans, LLC filed suit against Anthony Savarino Crane and Rigging, Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Nov. 9. Machinery Movers claims it specializes in moving heavy equipment and competes with Anthony Savarino Crane and Rigging.

The plaintiff claims the defendant hired away Daryl Breland, an owner of Machinery Movers, who subsequently took several of the company’s employees along with him. Machinery Movers asserts it gave 26 job contracts to Anthony Savarino Crane and Rigging after Breland joined the company and were expected to be paid for those contracts.

The plaintiff alleges the defendant fulfilled its obligations on all but nine of the contracts they agreed to and received payments at a 20 percent contract rate for a total of $19,216. However, Machinery Movers alleges that the remaining nine contracts were worth more and it should have received $43,142.50 from its portion of the contract. The plaintiff asserts that the defendant has wrongfully retained funds.

Damages in the amount of $43,142.50 is sought by the plaintiff plus 20 percent of any future work done by the defendant under the contracts in question.

Machinery Movers of New Orleans is represented by Charles M. Pisano of New Orleans-based Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balfhoff and McCollister.

The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Nancy A. Miller.

Case no. 720-982.