ton County sues Judicial Center contractor

[Guest guest]

Hmmmmm? Wonder how many other judge's chambers around the country have

mold? Cuz that could explain alot!

Sharon

In a message dated 1/2/2006 9:46:42 AM Pacific Standard Time,

tigerpaw2c@... writes:

Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Last Updated: 7:07 AM

ton County sues Judicial Center contractor

BY ROBERT BEHRE

The Post and Courier

http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=62055 & section=localnews

Perhaps it was inevitable that the dispute over the ton

County Judicial Center's construction would play out on legal papers

filed within the building itself.

The county has sued contractor Bill Harbert Construction of

Birmingham, Ala., seeking money to correct lingering problems with

the $48 million building off Meeting, Broad and King streets.

Court workers noticed leaks inside the four-story brick building

shortly after it opened in 2002. The problems worsened later because

of tropical storms, and Harbert had crews return to the building

last December to begin making repairs.

Some work continued through this year, but the county and company

have now come to an impasse, Council Chairman Leon Stavrinakis said.

" It's been an enormous disappointment. We've given this contractor

just so much leeway in terms of time and performance to secure the

defects in the building. We've just bent over backwards to let him

get it done right, " Stavrinakis said. " They just haven't gotten it

done. "

A B.L. Harbert spokesman said Wednesday the company would have no

comment.

The building's problems are largely invisible to the average person

because they are along the northern wall, where the judges'

chambers, jury rooms and corridors are located. All those areas are

off limits to the public.

Some judges' offices have had their interior walls gutted to the

metal studs, which show signs of rust. The moisture led to mold, and

some judges had to relocate.

The county previously said the building's problems include a lack of

wall flashing on the north stucco wall; gaps, tears and inadequate

terminations in the moisture barrier, poorly flashed windows,

blocked weep drains and deficient parapet coping stone flashing.

The lawsuit, filed in the county's Court of Common Pleas, marks a

watershed moment in the county's relationship with Harbert. Earlier

this year, County Administrator Roland Windham praised the company

for being " extremely cooperative " in correcting the problems and for

extending its warranty until February 2006.

With many county employees taking time off between Christmas and New

Year's, a county spokeswoman said Wednesday she could not say how

much of the judicial center remains out of commission. Stavrinakis

said County Council appreciates the patience shown by judges, clerks

and others.

" I do want to say a tremendously kind word to the people who work in

that building who have endured for a number of years now an

inconvenience and a less than positive work environment and who have

done so without making a big deal about it and without complaining, "

he said.

Contact Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@....

[Guest guest]

Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Last Updated: 7:07 AM

ton County sues Judicial Center contractor

BY ROBERT BEHRE

The Post and Courier

http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=62055 & section=localnews

Perhaps it was inevitable that the dispute over the ton

County Judicial Center's construction would play out on legal papers

filed within the building itself.

The county has sued contractor Bill Harbert Construction of

Birmingham, Ala., seeking money to correct lingering problems with

the $48 million building off Meeting, Broad and King streets.

Court workers noticed leaks inside the four-story brick building

shortly after it opened in 2002. The problems worsened later because

of tropical storms, and Harbert had crews return to the building

last December to begin making repairs.

Some work continued through this year, but the county and company

have now come to an impasse, Council Chairman Leon Stavrinakis said.

" It's been an enormous disappointment. We've given this contractor

just so much leeway in terms of time and performance to secure the

defects in the building. We've just bent over backwards to let him

get it done right, " Stavrinakis said. " They just haven't gotten it

done. "

A B.L. Harbert spokesman said Wednesday the company would have no

comment.

The building's problems are largely invisible to the average person

because they are along the northern wall, where the judges'

chambers, jury rooms and corridors are located. All those areas are

off limits to the public.

Some judges' offices have had their interior walls gutted to the

metal studs, which show signs of rust. The moisture led to mold, and

some judges had to relocate.

The county previously said the building's problems include a lack of

wall flashing on the north stucco wall; gaps, tears and inadequate

terminations in the moisture barrier, poorly flashed windows,

blocked weep drains and deficient parapet coping stone flashing.

The lawsuit, filed in the county's Court of Common Pleas, marks a

watershed moment in the county's relationship with Harbert. Earlier

this year, County Administrator Roland Windham praised the company

for being " extremely cooperative " in correcting the problems and for

extending its warranty until February 2006.

With many county employees taking time off between Christmas and New

Year's, a county spokeswoman said Wednesday she could not say how

much of the judicial center remains out of commission. Stavrinakis

said County Council appreciates the patience shown by judges, clerks

and others.

" I do want to say a tremendously kind word to the people who work in

that building who have endured for a number of years now an

inconvenience and a less than positive work environment and who have

done so without making a big deal about it and without complaining, "

he said.

Contact Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@....