Inspectronic Corp. v. Gottlieb Skanska, Inc.

50 Misc. 3d 1013, 24 N.Y.S.3d 846
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 11, 2013
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 50 Misc. 3d 1013 (Inspectronic Corp. v. Gottlieb Skanska, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Inspectronic Corp. v. Gottlieb Skanska, Inc., 50 Misc. 3d 1013, 24 N.Y.S.3d 846 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Vito M. DeStefano, J.

[1015]*1015In this action to recover damages for, inter alia, breach of contract, the court, on September 17, 18, 19, October 11 and 12, 2012, conducted a trial of the causes of action in the plaintiff Inspectronic’s complaint and the counterclaims in the answer of defendant Gottlieb Skanska, Inc. At the trial, the following witnesses testified: Carmine Giangregorio, mechanical superintendent of Gottlieb, Steven Ghirardi, project manager of Gottlieb, Lionel Galerne, president and owner of Inspectronic, and Mark Judd, president and CEO of Bidco Marine Inc. The court credits the testimony of each of the witnesses in part. To the extent that the witnesses’ testimony was in disagreement on a material issue, the court will note whose testimony it has credited.

In 2003, Gottlieb entered into a contract with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to perform repairs and renovations of part of the reservoir system providing water to New York City. Gottlieb entered into a subcontract with Inspectronic under which Inspectronic was to perform all diving and underwater operations at the site.

The relevant provisions of the subcontract provide as follows:

“1.1 The contract documents (collectively the ‘Contract Documents’), which are incorporated by reference herein insofar as each and every part thereof is applicable to this Subcontract and the Work to be undertaken by Subcontractor hereunder, shall consist of the following:
“(a) This Subcontract Agreement, including any Riders, Progress Schedules and Exhibits annexed to it and made a part of it;
“(b) The Prime Contract including the plans, specifications, general and special conditions, and addenda, if any;
“(c) The shop drawings approved by the Owner or its Architect/Engineer and any coordination drawing issued;
“(d) Site surveys, soil boring tests and logs, and other examinations prepared by or for the Owner regarding the applicable site conditions;
“(e) Change Orders, Field Changes, Requests for Information, Field clarifications and Amplification Drawings, as such terms are generally used and understood in the construction trade; and . . .
“2.1 Subcontractor shall faithfully, and in a good and workmanlike manner in strict accordance with [1016]*1016applicable Contract Documents furnish and perform the following Work required thereunder:
“SEE RIDERS: ‘LISTING OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS & ADDENDUMS’
“ ‘SCOPE OF WORK’
“All the foregoing is herein referred to as the ‘Work’ “2.2 Subcontractor shall provide all labor, supervision, materials and equipment necessary for, or incidental to, the successful prosecution and completion of Subcontractor’s Work in the most expeditious and economical manner, consistent with the best industry accepted standards, lawful construction practices and the interests of the Project relating to quality, timely completion, in strict accordance with the Contract Documents. The enumeration of particular items in this Subcontract or in the specifications shall not be construed to exclude other items. The intention of the contract documents is to include all labor, materials, engineering, equipment, transportation, tools, plant, appliances, appurtenances and other facilities, whether specified herein or not, necessary for the proper execution and completion of Subcontractor’s Work. Subcontractor must refer any questions respecting the Contract Documents about which it is in doubt, or which seem to admit to a dual interpretation, to Gottlieb for resolution, by which Subcontractor shall abide. . . .
“3.1 Gottlieb shall pay to Subcontractor for satisfactory performance and completion of the Work and of all of the duties, obligations and responsibilities of carrying out this Agreement the following compensation (the ‘Contract Price’) “$334,500.00
“(Three Hundred Thirty Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents)
“Said Contract Price shall be subject to additions or deductions as may be herein provided or agreed upon in writing by Gottlieb . . .
“5.6 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, Gottlieb does not assure Subcontractor that it shall be able to commence, prosecute or complete the Work at the time stated, or in the sequence, manner or duration provided for in any [1017]*1017Progress Schedule that Gottlieb may provide to Subcontractor, or that the entire Work shall be completed at the time fixed in such Progress Schedule, Gottlieb reserving the right to alter or modify any such Progress Schedule. Subcontractor further agrees to promptly comply with all orders and directions given by Gottlieb, irrespective of whether Subcontractor shall dispute the same in any particular and without awaiting a determination by the Owner or by any other body or tribunal with respect to any such dispute. . . .
“10.1 In the event that the Work shall not be commenced or prosecuted by Subcontractor as provided in this Subcontract; or if the Subcontractor shall fail or refuse to comply with any of the written orders or directions of Gottlieb, or the Owner, either as to rate of progress, manpower, quantity of material or equipment, performance of extra or additional work, omission of work, or as to any other matter affecting the progress or prosecution of the Work; or if Subcontractor shall cause, by any of its acts or omissions, the stoppage, delay or interference with the work of Gottlieb or any other subcontractors; or if Subcontractor shall fail to make, when due, payments to [its] subcontractors, laborers, materialmen, or others to whom it may be indebted; or in the event the Subcontractor files any petition in bankruptcy, whether for an arrangement of creditors or otherwise, or should any such petition be filed by others affecting Subcontractor, or should Subcontractor become insolvent, make [an] assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a Receiver of it[s] property be appointed and should Subcontractor fail to immediately give Gottlieb written notice of the happening of any such event, or should Subcontractor, after due demand, fail to furnish what Gottlieb, in its sole judgment, considers adequate assurances of Subcontractor’s ability to duly and timely complete the Work remaining to be performed; if Subcontractor, in the opinion of Gottlieb, shall materially violate any of the terms of this Subcontract, then Gottlieb shall, after three (3) days written notice to Subcontractor of default hereunder and upon Subcontractor’s failure within that time to cure such default, have the right to take over this Subcontract and complete [1018]*1018the Work under it or, at its option, employ others to complete the Work to be done under it and charge the cost thereof to Subcontractor. . . .
“23.1 Gottlieb, without invalidating the Subcontract, may, at any time require changes in Subcontractor’s Work consisting of additions, deletions or other revisions, with the Contract Price being adjusted accordingly. All such required changes shall be requested in a signed writing and shall be submitted to Subcontractor for its signature.

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Bluebook (online)
50 Misc. 3d 1013, 24 N.Y.S.3d 846, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/inspectronic-corp-v-gottlieb-skanska-inc-nysupct-2013.