A Clinton construction company is suing Ansonia, claiming it was stiffed on payment for work it performed building the city’s Riverwalk nearly four years ago.
The company, Hammonasset Construction, was the city’s contractor for the first phase of the still-under-construction walkway along the Naugatuck River.
Background
The first phase, extending north from a pavilion at the intersection of Division and North Division streets, cost about $1 million and was paid for largely through state and federal grants.
The Riverwalk opened to much fanfare in October 2011.
At the time officials said it would eventually extend over the river to the city’s east side.
Last November voters approved the city bonding up to $200,000 to pay for a portion of the extension.
Lawsuit
Hammonasset’s lawsuit concerns the first phase of the project.
The company says it signed a contract with the city in September 2010 to build the first phase.
While building the walkway, the company says city officials asked Hammonasset to perform work beyond the scope of what was spelled out in its contract.
The company says it did the extra work, but “Ansonia failed and/or refused to compensate” the company for it.
The company is suing the city alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.
It’s unclear how much the company is alleging it was shortchanged.
The lawsuit does not spell out the specific dollar amount of damages the company is seeking, only that it’s more than $15,000.
The document is posted below.
Messages seeking comment Thursday with the lawyers representing the construction company, Edwin L. Doernberger and Michael V. Pepe, of Hamden-based Saxe, Doernberger, and Vita, were not returned.
The Valley Indy also left a message Thursday at the office of the construction company.
John Marini, Ansonia’s corporation counsel, said Thursday he had to do more research before commenting on the lawsuit’s specifics.
“It obviously concerns things that allegedly took place during the past administration,” Marini said.
He said he’d be talking to former officials involved in the project and looking through the contracts and documentation associated with the work.
“We have the finance office looking into all the documents so we can do a thorough review,” he said. “That’s going to be a key thing for us to understand.”