negligent misrepresentation

P.A.L. Environmental Safety Corp. v. North American Dismantling Corp. Et Al., No. 19-11630, 2020 BL 198779 (E.D. Mich. May 28, 2020)

A Michigan federal court partially granted Consumers Energy Company’s (“CEC”) motion to dismiss P.A.L. Environmental Safety Corporation’s (“PAL”) complaint alleging numerous causes of action in connection with its suit against CEC and contractor North American Dismantling Corporation (“NADC”) for outstanding payment stemming from asbestos abatement work at a CEC-owned power plant in Essexville, Michigan (the “Power Plant”).

According to the decision, CEC, as owner, and NADC, as prime contractor, entered into a written contract whereby NADC agreed to abate, dismantle, and demolish the Power Plant.  In turn, NADC subcontracted with PAL to perform abatement of all asbestos containing material at the Power Plant.  While the subcontract price was $7,996,331, PAL alleged entitlement to an adjusted price of $23,841,833 in unpaid labor and materials for its asbestos abatement work.  Specifically, PAL alleges that it performed additional work not accounted for in the subcontract including fly ash and coal dust removal, refractory brick abatement, and extra asbestos removal.

While PAL’s complaint included numerous counts against Defendants NADC, CEC, and labor and material payment bond surety North American Specialty Insurance Company (“NASIC”), the opinion is most notable for its treatment of CEC’s motion to dismiss several counts against it including: (i) quasi-contractual claims; (ii) a third-party breach of contract claim; and (iii) a negligent misrepresentation claim.
Continue Reading Michigan Federal Court Permits Subcontractor’s Quasi-Contractual Claims to Proceed Despite Existence of Express Contract Covering the Same Subject Matter

Popple Construction, Inc. v. Reilly Associates, Inc. No. 775-MDA-2017, 2019 BL 213236 (Pa. Sup. Ct., June 10, 2019).

On June 10, 2019, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a lower court decision to deny a motion to dismiss in connection with a tort claim for negligent misrepresentation by a contractor against a third-party design/engineer.  The Court’s opinion highlights Pennsylvania’s exception to the economic loss doctrine insofar as it applies to claims raised by contractors against architects/engineers for faulty bidding documents, specifications, or designs.Continue Reading Pennsylvania’s Exception to the Economic Loss Doctrine Appears Alive and Well: Appellate Court Permits Contractor to Pursue Negligent Misrepresentation Claim Against Design Professional

Skyrise Construction Group, LLC v. Annex Construction, LLC, 2019 BL 55071 (E.D. Wis. Feb. 20, 2019)

Subcontractor Skyrise Construction, Inc. (“Skyrise”) sued general contractor Annex Construction, Inc. (“Annex”) for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, negligent misrepresentation, and violations of Wisconsin and Illinois trade practices statutes.  Skyrise primarily based its claims on an assertion that the parties entered into a subcontract, which Annex breached when it removed Skyrise from the project and completed the work with an alternative subcontractor.  Both Skyrise and Annex filed motions for summary judgment.  The District Court denied Skyrise’s motion and granted Annex’s motion.Continue Reading District Court in Wisconsin Finds That Counteroffer and Repeated Negotiations Concerning a Construction Contract Do Not Create Contractual Relationship

Kuhn Construction Company v. Ocean and Coastal Consultants, Inc.
2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71057 (D. Del. July 15, 2010)

Diamond State Port Corporation (“DSPC”) engaged Ocean and Costal Consultants, Inc. (“OCC”) to prepare engineered drawings, plans, and specifications for a project at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware. In soliciting bids, DSPC utilized the bid documents designed and prepared by OCC. Kuhn Construction Company (“Kuhn”) relied upon those documents to prepare its bid for work on the project. As the lowest bidder, Kuhn entered into a contract with DSPC.Continue Reading U.S. District Court in Delaware Allows Contractor’s Tort Claims Against Engineer to Proceed – Also Holds Owner Not an Indispensable Party