State accused of failing to adequately pay contractor

NEW ORLEANS– A Mandeville construction firm is suing the State of Louisiana after a dispute over additional fees.

Devier Design Build LLC filed suit against the State of Louisiana, Division of Administration in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Jan. 4.

The parties entered into a contract on July, 25, 2009 for the construction of the City Park Administration Building, for which the original price for the work was to be $3,187,000. The suit claims that in the case of delays to the work, the contract provided for compensation of Devier if the delays were caused by change orders approved by the defendant.

The state allegedly violated the contract by refusing to acknowledge requests for compensation. Additionally, the state refused to address delays caused by any reason, including delays caused by additional work requested and weather delays.

The state is accused of breach of contract for refusing to compensate the plaintiff for the delays.

Damages in the amount of $101,331 are sought for expenses caused by the delays as well as the cost of the proceedings.

The plaintiff is represented by attorney Jack Hoffstadt of Mandeville.

The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Paula A. Brown.

Case No. 2013-00075.