Grady's v. Alliance

CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedJanuary 2, 2018
Docket1 CA-CV 16-0739
StatusUnpublished

This text of Grady's v. Alliance (Grady's v. Alliance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grady's v. Alliance, (Ark. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

GRADY’S QUALITY EXCAVATING INC, an Arizona corporation, Plaintiff/Appellant,

v.

ALLIANCE STREETWORKS INC, an Arizona corporation; NORTH AMERICAN SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, a foreign corporation, Defendants/Appellees,

ALLIANCE STREET WORKS, INC, an Arizona corporation, Counter- Claimant,

GRADY’S QUALITY EXCAVATING INC, an Arizona corporation, Counter-Defendant.

No. 1 CA-CV 16-0739 FILED 1-2-2018

Appeal from the Superior Court in Yavapai County No. V1300CV201480119 The Honorable Jeffrey G. Paupore, Judge Pro Tempore

AFFIRMED COUNSEL

Schneider & Onofry P.C., Phoenix By Jason M. Kelly (argued), Luane Rosen, Maria C. Lomeli Counsel for Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant/Appellant

Sacks Tierney P.A., Scottsdale By Sharon B. Shively (argued), Gaye L. Gould Counsel for Defendants/Counter-Claimants/Appellees

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Paul J. McMurdie delivered the decision of the Court, in which Chief Judge Samuel A. Thumma and Judge James B. Morse Jr. joined.

M c M U R D I E, Judge:

¶1 Grady’s Quality Excavating, Inc. (“Grady’s Excavating”) appeals from a superior court judgment entered in favor of Alliance Streetworks, Inc. (“Alliance”) and American Specialty Insurance Company on all counts, awarding Alliance attorney’s fees and costs, and denying Grady’s Excavating’s Motion for New Trial and/or Additur.1

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 Grady’s Excavating is an Arizona roadway paving company owned by Grady Hopson and his wife Cheryl Hopson, the company’s vice president and chief financial officer. Ron Gardner owns Alliance, a public works road construction company originating in California, which has held an Arizona construction license since it moved to Arizona in 2011. While new to the area, Gardner rented some of his equipment to Hopson and discussed possible cooperation on projects.

1 The superior court awarded Alliance the sum of $15,000 on its counterclaim for equipment rental charges, and denied Alliance’s claim for repair costs on that equipment. Because Alliance did not appeal from these rulings, Alliance’s counterclaim is not part of this appeal.

2 GRADY’S v. ALLIANCE, et al. Decision of the Court

¶3 In August 2012, Yavapai County (“County”) opened its “Verde Valley School Road shoulder widening and pavement rehabilitation” project (“Project”) for bids from potential general contractors. Because Grady’s Excavating did not have the bonding capacity to bid on the Project, and Alliance had bonding capacity but no, or very few, employees, Grady’s Excavating approached Alliance with an offer to develop a bid and submit it under Alliance’s name.

¶4 After Alliance’s bid was the lowest submitted, a pre-award meeting was scheduled, during which the County representatives met with Gardner. The County required that “[a] minimum of 50% of the work must be accomplished directly by the bidding contractor.” Gardner explained to Aric Stewart, the County’s Project Engineer, Alliance would comply with the 50% requirement by paying for more than 50% of the Project’s expenses, and that Grady’s Excavating would perform all the labor because Alliance had no employees. At trial, Stewart testified he contacted the County Attorney regarding Alliance’s unusual form of fulfilling the County requirement. The County determined that if Alliance would treat the listed Grady’s Excavating’s employees as its own, the County would not reject Alliance’s bid. Stewart was aware Alliance would have no real employees, but Gardner assured the County he would be present on site daily and during weekly meetings with Stewart.

¶5 On October 15, 2012, the County awarded the Project to Alliance, executing a prime contract with Alliance for a total amount of $879,893.69 (“Prime Contract”). On November 16, 2012, Grady’s Excavating signed a subcontract with Alliance for $361,354.64, agreeing to “furnish all labor, materials, (EXCLUDING ASPHALT) and equipment necessary and perform supervision and labor required for the completion of the phase of the project identified and itemized on Attached ‘Schedule A’” (“Subcontract”).2 Schedule A stated Grady’s Excavating was responsible for all “grading/paving/drainage” and “concrete headwalls” and specifically excluded tasks to be performed by other subcontractors. Schedule A also outlined the materials and subcontractors to be paid directly by Alliance. The Subcontract further expressly provided: “Any and All Payrolls and Expenses paid by Alliance Streetworks on behalf of Grady’s Excavating Quality Excavating shall be deducted from the total of Grady’s Excavating Quality Excavating sub-contract amount.” In Section 3, the Subcontract also specified Alliance “may deduct from any amounts due to [Grady’s

2 Schedule A stated Alliance would purchase asphalt for the total amount of $323,000.

3 GRADY’S v. ALLIANCE, et al. Decision of the Court

Excavating] an amount sufficient to protect itself from loss on account of: . . . (d) [f]ailure of [Grady’s Excavating] to make payments properly to its subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers, or for equipment, material or labor.”

¶6 Grady Hopson testified at trial he understood Alliance needed to pay some employees through its payroll to satisfy the County requirement, and that Grady’s Excavating would reimburse Alliance for any payments to Grady’s Excavating’s employees. Gardner testified he understood Alliance would cover certain materials, and Grady’s Excavating would perform all labor on its part of the Project, with its employees being paid through Alliance’s payroll. Cheryl Hopson, who prepared the Subcontract, testified she understood Gardner to act as a “straw general contractor,” or someone who manages or oversees the Project, and that Grady’s Excavating would perform most of the Project. She also understood the County required Alliance to “do payroll.” Cheryl sent an email to Gardner dated November 14, 2012, which accompanied a draft Subcontract and was sent two days before the Subcontract’s execution. The emailed read: “Any payroll that is paid by Alliance will be charged back to Grady’s Excavating contract amount also. If you want to set aside $60,000 that is for payroll, we would be fine with that. This would reduce Grady’s Excavating contract down to $301,354.64.” Cheryl also testified she moved certain materials out of Grady’s Excavating scope of work into Alliance’s to accommodate the County’s requirement for Alliance to perform 50% of the Project. Cheryl also emailed Gardner a wage scale for Grady’s Excavating’s employees, and repeatedly confirmed or clarified which Grady’s Excavating’s employees would be added to Alliance’s payroll.

¶7 During the Project’s performance, Grady’s Excavating asked Alliance to pay, on its behalf, its subcontractors, which Alliance did because Gardner did not want to jeopardize Alliance’s performance bond. Grady’s Excavating was not in a good financial position and paid many vendors in cash.

¶8 For its performance, Grady’s Excavating submitted three pay applications to Alliance. Cheryl testified Alliance never objected to any of Grady’s Excavating’s pay applications, but Gardner testified he disputed some. After the first application, Grady’s Excavating directly received $36,370.64 from Alliance. In April 2013, the County lowered its payment to Alliance by $46,091.06 from the original contract amount of $879,893.69, adjusting it per the Prime Contract for actual quantities of work performed, which also decreased Grady’s Excavating’s Subcontract amount.

4 GRADY’S v. ALLIANCE, et al. Decision of the Court

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Grady's v. Alliance, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gradys-v-alliance-arizctapp-2018.