Who’s suing whom

Alfred McAlpine vs Tilebox

Contractor Alfred McAlpine has taken developer Tilebox to the High Court in a row over a contract that charges it £45,000 a week for delays. McAlpine says that the charges for delay amount to £5.5m – almost half of the £11m cost for the whole project – and is asking the court to declare that they are unenforceable.

The case centres on an office scheme in Guildford, due to be completed in July 2002. McAlpine argues that the money does not represent a genuine pre-estimate of what Tilebox's loss is likely to be in the event of delays.

Amec-Tarmac vs Royal & SunAlliance

Seven construction companies have joined forces to sue insurance firm Royal & SunAlliance in a row over a flood at Manchester airport.

The seven, which trade as Amec-Tarmac Joint Venture and Amec-Carillion Joint Venture, accuse Royal & SunAlliance of failing to meet an insurance claim after floods at the airport in 1998.

They claim that this was wrongful and in breach of contract and are seeking unspecified damages of more than £150,000.

Optima Properties vs Bovis Construction

Bovis Construction is facing a £200,000 damages claim in a row over stone cladding on a property in Richmond, Surrey. Owners Optima Properties claim that the stone cladding on Westminster House in Kew Road, Richmond, put up by Bovis’ subcontractors, is defective and untidy. Optima says some cladding panels retain water, and are chipped and discoloured. It also claims the panels did not include the reinforcement required.

Optima argues that Bovis is in breach of its agreement by failing to use materials and workmanship of the required standards, and by failing to remedy the defects.

Bovis had subcontracted the stone cladding replacement work to Binadon, but Optima says that Bovis is responsible for its work.

Adana vs De Montfort Insurance

Offshore client Adana is suing De Montfort Insurance for £5.9m over a refurbishment scheme in Mayfair in central London.

Adana, which is based in the British Virgin Islands, says De Montfort provided a performance guarantee to building contractor Areen Design Services in 2002. Adana claims that when Areen was sacked for poor performance, De Montfort failed to follow the terms of the contract. Adana’s claim amounts to £5.2m

and the company argues that De Montfort is liable for the maximum amount of the guarantee.

Fairview New Homes vs Spencer Michael

Property consultant Spencer Michael is facing a £600,000 legal battle after it allegedly agreed to buy 10 houses and 17 plots of land. Developer Fairview New Homes (Farnborough) says Mr Michael agreed to buy the houses and plots on a site at Balham High Road, south London, in 2004 but failed to complete the deal.

The writ says Mr Michael owes the balance of £176,277.66 for the 10 houses, and his company, Spencer Michael Consultancy, owes £434,250 for the plots of land. Fairview New Homes says it is entitled to payment of the balance of the deposits, plus interest.