Leasing company sues barge operator over funds owed

A maritime equipment leasing company has sued a client, alleging breach of contract.

Cashman Equipment Corp. filed a lawsuit March 23 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against C&R Contractors, claiming breach of several leasing contracts.

According to the complaint, C&R entered into three agreements with Cashman to lease equipment and the first was executed June 1, 2014 to charter the plaintiff’s barge, the “JMC 47”, effective May 30, 2014, at the rate of $1,000 per day. The suit says C&R failed to pay all of the charter hire owed for this first contract, specifically, C&R neglected to remit two invoices for $6,480 and $9,720.

The suit says C&R entered into a second agreement with CEC on July 14, 2014, to lease the same barge at the same daily rate, and failed to pay a third invoice in the amount of $11,880.

Finally, C&R entered into a third charter with the plaintiff, for a JMC 159 barge plus a JMC 49 crane, effective May 30, 2014, at the rate of $1,300 per day, the suit states. The complaint alleges some, but not all, of the second and third rentals were paid and that the defendant is in arrears for all remaining balances due, plus interest and fees.

Cashman Equipment seeks to recover all remaining amounts owed plus damages, attorney fees, expenses and costs. The company is represented by attorney Scott Brownell of Covington.

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number: 2:15-cv-00897-EEF-DEK.