A federal judge has made a significant ruling in the ongoing lawsuit concerning the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Sioux City. The lawsuit, initiated by Hausmann Construction, the general contractor for the project, involves a dispute over $5.7 million allegedly owed for work on the $70 million facility.

Claims Dismissed and Allowed

U.S. District Judge Leonard Strand dismissed professional negligence claims against Goldberg Group Architects and Introba, citing Iowa law that requires proof of physical injury or property damage for such claims. This led to the dismissal of Counts IV and VI. Additionally, part of Count III, which alleged interference by the LEC Authority, was dismissed. The judge clarified that the Authority cannot interfere with its own contract, but the claim of interference with Hausmann’s business relationships remains.

Despite these dismissals, several claims continue to move forward. These include allegations of intentional interference with business relationships against various parties involved in the project, including the LEC Authority, Goldberg Group Architects, Introba engineers, and Baker Group construction managers.

Background and Ongoing Dispute

The Woodbury County LEC project, which began after a $54 million public bond was approved in March 2020, faced multiple delays and budget overruns, eventually costing $70 million. The facility, now triple the size of the old center, can house nearly 450 inmates and includes provisions for federal prisoners, providing a potential revenue stream for the county.

The LEC Authority has consistently denied Hausmann’s claims, and previous attempts to settle the case have been unsuccessful. The lawsuit is set to proceed to a jury trial on May 10, 2027, where the remaining claims will be addressed.

Original reporting: KCRG News – Cedar Rapids, IA — read the source article.