Axion Corp. v. United States

68 Fed. Cl. 468, 2005 U.S. Claims LEXIS 335, 2005 WL 2995369
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedOctober 31, 2005
DocketNos. 03-2644C, 04-297C
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 68 Fed. Cl. 468 (Axion Corp. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Axion Corp. v. United States, 68 Fed. Cl. 468, 2005 U.S. Claims LEXIS 335, 2005 WL 2995369 (uscfc 2005).

Opinion

OPINION

FIRESTONE, Judge.

This matter comes before the court on the parties’ cross-motions for partial summary judgment and the defendant’s partial motion to dismiss. In this ease, the plaintiff, Axion Corporation (“Axion”), has sued the United States (the “government”) challenging the termination for default of its $1,313,974.20 contract to provide PS-115 batteries (“batteries”). Axion seeks to convert the termination of the contract for default into a termination for convenience, claiming compensation under the contract in the amount of $3,'747,298.1 Based on many of the same theories, Axion also seeks compensation for a number of equitable adjustments, regardless of whether the termination for default was valid. The majority of the counts are based on Axion’s expenses and work in three areas: (1) developing an air gun to test the batteries, (2) producing plating for the batteries, and (3) dealing with leaking batteries.

The government argues that Axion’s claims relating to the above-noted items are barred by the “release and accord and satisfaction” (“release”) clause in three contract modifications signed by the parties prior to the contract termination. In addition, the government argues that Axion’s claims relating to the air gun must be dismissed because they are barred by the statute of limitations and by the doctrine of laches.

Axion argues, in response, that it has alleged sufficient facts that preclude the court from granting the government’s motion to dismiss based on the statute of limitations or laches. In addition, Axion asserts that the release does not bar any of its claims because the bilateral modifications that contain the release are unenforceable for lack of consideration. In the alternative, Axion asserts that the release should not be enforced because of a unilateral mistake on Axion’s part. In particular, Axion contends that the government knew or should have known that, in signing the modifications, Axion did not intend to release the government for all of the additional costs it had incurred to cure the problems it alleges were caused by the government. Axion further contends in its cross-motion that the release set forth in the modifications does not bar its claims for converting the government’s termination for default to a termination for convenience.

For the reasons set forth below, the court finds that Axion has alleged sufficient facts to withstand the government’s motion to dismiss and that there is not an absence of disputed issues of material fact which would allow the court to grant summary judgment for either party. Accordingly, the govern[470]*470ment’s motions are DENIED. The plaintiff’s cross-motion is also DENIED.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted. On December 14,1995, the Naval Inventory Control Point (“NAVIP” or “Navy”) and Axion entered into a fixed price contract for the delivery of batteries used in Navy munitions. The contract required delivery of 55,209 batteries, exclusive of first article samples, production lot samples, and option quantities. The contract established a unit price of $23.80, and the total price, exclusive of option quantities, was $1,313,974.20. The contract included a First Article Test (“FAT”) requirement. The purpose of the FAT is to ensure that the contractor will furnish a product that conforms to all contract requirements and to verify the adequacy of the manufacturing processes and materials. The government terminated the contract for default on November 12, 2002, because the FAT requirements were not satisfied.

I. Problem Areas Under the Contract

Axion claims that there were three major problem areas under the contract that excuse its performance and for which it is entitled to equitable adjustments or compensation under FAR § 52.249-2(g) from the government: (1) problems with development of an air gun to test the batteries, (2) problems with the plating for the batteries, and (3) problems with leaking from the batteries.

With respect to the first problem area, the air gun, the undisputed facts show that the contract required Axion to provide all acceptance-inspection equipment, although the contract did not specify the use of an air gun for testing. On January 17, 1996, Axion requested that the Navy provide it with an air gun. This was based on Axion’s understanding that in two previous contracts for batteries with the United States Army (“Army”), which were identified in the solicitation, the Army had provided the contractor with an air gun. The government denies that the Army furnished an air gun or that an air gun was furnished to the Army contractor at no cost. On January 26, 1996, the Navy declined to provide Axion with an air gun. Axion then discussed with the Army Research Laboratory (“ARL”) the possibility of Axion using an ARL air gun or having ARL provide Axion with drawings for producing an air gun, but ARL did not enter into an agreement with Axion.

In April and May 1997, Axion notified the government that it planned to produce an air gun. However, Axion alleges that the government later required Axion to produce an air gun that was more complex and expensive than what Axion had initially planned to use. Axion alleges that the government’s May 14, 1998, approval of Axion’s FAT procedure was predicated on Axion’s fabricating a specific air gun. The government states that at no time after 1996 did it have a role in Axion’s decision to produce the contractually-required test equipment.

There is no dispute that Axion had difficulties developing an air gun. Axion alleges that producing an air gun that would test the batteries amounted to a major research and development effort. The government disagrees with this characterization.

Based on the air gun testing data Axion submitted in April 1999, the Navy approved Axion’s FAT in May 1999. The contract provided for delivery of the first production quantities 90 days after FAT approval. Ax-ion did not make delivery in accordance with this schedule, and on five occasions Axion and the Navy entered into bilateral modifications to extend the delivery schedule. Eventually, the Navy required Axion to resubmit a number of batteries for FAT. Axion conducted the second FAT in September 2002. Axion claims that the air gun malfunctioned during the testing and that the failure of several batteries to meet the contract’s performance requirements was due to the air gun itself. Axion argues that the government’s failure to accept responsibility for the problems associated with the air gun resulted in an improper termination for default.

With respect to second problem area, the plating stock, the following facts are not disputed. Prior to the termination of the contract for default, Axion identified problems with obtaining the plating stock for the bat[471]*471teries. Axion initially obtained the plating stock from an outside vendor. The batteries that passed the first FAT were made with plating stock from the outside vendor. After passing the first FAT, Axion decided to produce its own plating stock rather than acquire the item from an outside vendor. Ax-ion encountered difficulties in producing the plating stock that Axion alleges increased its costs. Axion alleges that its difficulties in producing plating were attributable to defective specifications provided by the government. Axion also alleges that in changing the materials used to produce the plating stock, Axion improved the quality of the plating stock.

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Bluebook (online)
68 Fed. Cl. 468, 2005 U.S. Claims LEXIS 335, 2005 WL 2995369, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/axion-corp-v-united-states-uscfc-2005.