Las Vegas is a city known for its grand hotels and casinos, the building and maintenance of which are governed in part by various codes, ordinances and laws. Construction companies that are hired to design and construct such facilities can be held responsible if their work does not comply with all legal requirements. Contractors who build structures that are not up to code may find themselves embroiled in a variety of legal battles, including business disputes or construction litigation.
Arizona construction company M.A. Mortenson is learning about this type of litigation firsthand. The contractor is facing a lawsuit after two engineering reports determined that a ballpark designed and built by the company suffers from numerous structural issues. One of these reports also stated that the park does not meet legally required standards and codes. Several spectators have suffered injuries on the premises since the ballpark was built in 2008; Mortenson’s faulty construction is believed to be the cause of these accidents.
The plaintiff in this lawsuit is Gilbert, the town in which the ballpark is located. The suit was initially filed in February 2013 but was placed on hold while the parties attempted to resolve their issues through mediation, which took place in December. However, this did not result in any settlement agreement, and Gilbert is now moving forward with its lawsuit.
Business litigation against construction companies can be very complicated. These lawsuits may involve city or county building codes, breach of contract issues, personal injury claims, and appeals. Anyone who is party to such litigation may want to speak with an attorney to gain a clear understanding of their legal options.
Source: azcentral.com, “Mediation fails, litigation on for Gilbert, ballpark builder of Big League Dreams,” Srianthi Perera, Jan. 6, 2014