CONSTRUCTION FIRMS MUST PAY MTA.Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer A state Superior Court jury on Monday awarded $446,600 to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after finding three construction firms in breach of contract for work at the Wilshire-Normandie Metro Station. Tutor-Saliba Corp., Perini Corp. and Tutor-Saliba Perini AJB AJB America’s Job Bank AJB African Journal of Biotechnology AJB Amt für Jugend und Berufsberatung (German: office for youth and vocational guidance) AJB American Journal of Botany AJB Australian Journal of Botany , a company owned jointly by them, were also found in violation of filing false claims after charging the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. twice for installing handrails inside the subway station. In addition, the court could assess $20,000 more in penalties, MTA lawyers said. When the overpayment o·ver·pay v. o·ver·paid , o·ver·pay·ing, o·ver·pays v.tr. 1. To pay (a party) too much. 2. To pay an amount in excess of (a sum due). v.intr. To pay too much. was realized and reimbursement was then sought, the construction companies used phony documents to persuade the public-transit agency that the charges were valid, MTA attorneys said. Monday's decision was significant because it was the first time the construction companies have been found by a court to have violated the public's trust, said David Casselman, the MTA's lead attorney from Wasserman, Comden and Casselman. ``They spend so much money fighting, those cases never go to court,'' Casselman said. ``The intention is to intimidate the public agencies so they do not fight.'' Nomi Castle of Castle and Associates, the law firm representing the construction companies, did not return a call for comment. Ron Tutor, Tutor-Saliba's president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , could not be reached for comment. The case is among others that were broken up from a $60 million verdict awarded to the MTA that said Tutor-Saliba Corp. falsified bills during Red Line construction and was reversed in January 2005 by the state Court of Appeals. Monday's court decision was not the first time the controversial Sylmar- based builder has been embroiled em·broil tr.v. em·broiled, em·broil·ing, em·broils 1. To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions: "Avoid . . . in controversy. Earlier this year, the Tutor-Saliba Corp. agreed to pay $19 million to the city and county of San Francisco to settle a lawsuit that accused the contractor of overbilling for the San Francisco International Airport “SFO” redirects here. For other uses, see SFO (disambiguation). For the television series, see . expansion. Critics have questioned the politically connected builder, which donates thousands of dollars to politicians. Recently it was awarded a $241.7 million contract for a runway improvement project at Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX . sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3746 |
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