MORGANTOWN – A development company is suing an Oregon-based contractor, claiming the contractor did not complete a hotel project on time and abandoned the project with major defects.
Star City-based Granville Hospitality filed a lawsuit May 22 in Monongalia Circuit Court against Wright Development.
According to the complaint, the parties entered into a contract on Nov. 9, 2007 to build a Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott at the University Towne Center in Granville.
The contract called for the project to be completed by Aug. 19, 2008 and for the work to be of quality.
The price of the project was not to exceed $5.9 million dollars, the complaint says.
The plaintiffs say the defendant company did not meet the deadline for the construction to be completed and submitted change orders that sought to increase the maximum cost over that specified in the contract.
The plaintiffs allege that there are numerous major deficiencies and fraudulently concealed defects to the project, which were not discovered until after the defendants abandoned the project on Feb. 20, 2009.
The plaintiffs say they terminated the contract with Wright on March 4. At that time, the plaintiffs say they gave Wright the opportunity to correct the problems, but Wright did not respond.
The plaintiffs say they called in a replacement contractor to finish the work.
The lawsuit says the alleged shoddy workmanship on the hotel was the result of negligence, lack of supervision and intentional malfeasance.
Among the problems were the installation of room air handling, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and sewer lines that were not up to building and fire codes, the complaint says.
Subcontractors on the project also say they haven't been paid by Wright, the complaint says.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Michael Kozakewich Jr., Brian D. Gallagher and Edmund L. Wagoner are representing the plaintiffs.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 09-C-363
Lawsuit filed over $5M hotel near Morgantown
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