District files 26 lawsuits against architects, engineering firms
Financially troubled district seeks $2 million in claims because of alleged design deficiencies in capital projects
THE SCHOOL district hasn't officially received any additional state or city funding, but it sure is trying to find some money elsewhere.
Between July 29 and yesterday, the district filed 26 lawsuits against various architecture and engineering firms seeking repayment of district funds.
The district alleges there are "design deficiencies in the drawings and specifications" prepared by the firms for projects in its Capital Improvement Program, district spokesman Fernando Gallard said in a statement. The flaws required changes to contracts, elevating the costs for the district, he said.
"The school district anticipates recovering up to $2 million as a result of these suits," Gallard said. "The district intends to pursue these actions aggressively."
The suits, filed in Common Pleas Court by the law firm Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg, each seek at least $50,000 from defendants.
The district declined to say how many or which school projects were involved. But some of the defendants' websites featured portfolios that included district projects.
The Sheward Partnership, for example, said on its site that it had been contracted to work on the renovations of Holme Elementary and Mastbaum Vocational/Technical School, as well as construction of the new Commodore John Barry Elementary School, at 59th and Race streets.
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