NEW CUMBERLAND – A school board is suing six defendants over allegedly unsatisfactory work on a new school construction project that cost $6.85 million.
The Board of Education of the County of Hancock filed the suit May 23 in Hancock Circuit Court against James F. Baller Sr., Romig Roofing Company, Colaianni Construction Inc., Ohio Farmer Insurance Company, McKinley & Associates Inc., and ASC Profiles Inc., citing breach of contract and negligence.
On April 2, 2003, the board employed Baller to serve as clerk of the works to oversee construction of a new middle school, the suit says, alleging that Colaianni Construction was awarded the bid and began construction on June 1, 2003; it was completed Jan. 7, 2005, and the last payment was issued in December 2005.
However, on a walk-through of the building, several deficiencies were spotted, according to the complaint, and Colainanni was contacted about them and allegedly made repairs on March 1, 2006.
Still other deficiencies were discovered, the suit alleges, and further repairs to the roof took place, totaling nearly $800,000, the suit says. The roof is still not fixed, according to the complaint.
The board requests damages from Baller; Romig Roofing, employed by Colaianni as a subcontractor; Colaianni Construction; Ohio Farmers Insurance Company, which secured the performance bond for Colaianni; McKinley & Associates, the architect on the project; and ASC Profiles, the successful bidder for the manufacture of the metal roofing materials which are allegedly defective.
The plaintiff demands a trial by jury regarding all equitable claims and for the two petitions for declaratory relief. It is represented by David F. Cross in Wellsburg.
Hancock Circuit Court Case number 16-C-76W