construction, Clovis Unified close in on a settlement on Buchanan High School

March 11, 2002

School legal fight nears end

construction, Clovis Unified close in on a settlement.

By Felicia Cousart Matlosz

The Fresno Bee

(Published Saturday, March, 9, 2002 3:18AM)

A long-running legal battle between the Clovis Unified School District and a

prominent construction company about the building of Buchanan High School

may be nearing a conclusion. Dwight , president of C.

and Sons based in Selma, said this week: " Everybody tells me they think in

the month of March that it will be resolved. "

The complex case started after Buchanan was completed in 1993.

initially won more than a $1 million judgment for breach of contract in

1998. The firm had accused Clovis Unified of several issues that included

requiring work not in the contract and refusing to grant extensions for

delays caused by the district.

But Clovis Unified officials filed their own lawsuit that contended there

were defects in construction, such as cracked plaster, buildings improperly

painted and roof drains not properly installed.

Terry Bradley, the district's deputy superintendent for administrative

services, said that all parties involved in the case have agreed to extend

the trial date " in the hopes of getting the complaint settled. "

Bradley said the district had hoped to resolve the case in 2000 but progress

was sidetracked by the discovery of mold at Buchanan that September. The

school was closed for seven days while tests were conducted to determine if

the mold posed a health risk. Officials decided it was safe for classes to

resume.

has maintained that the architectural design of the campus caused

problems.

In a separate legal matter, the district last fall filed another lawsuit

against over construction defects at Garfield Elementary, which is

located at the Buchanan Educational Center.

District officials about a year ago began noticing leaking water problems at

the school, which opened in 1994. Tests were conducted, including tests for

the presence of mold. Garfield was cleared of any health risks.

said that the Buchanan and Garfield cases are separate issues.

The reporter can be reached at fmatlosz@... or 441-6428.

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