U.S. Seeks $675,000 From Firm for Alleged Shuttle Overcharges

The U.S. Justice Department filed suit to recover more than $675,000 from a Los Angeles company for allegedly submitting inflated claims for electrical work at the space shuttle launch complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The civil suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against Newberry Electric Corp., and James Alton Travis, the company’s former project manager at Vandenberg.

Assistant Atty. Gen. Richard Willard said Newberry was a subcontractor to Martin Marietta Corp., the Air Force’s prime contractor for preparing the base for shuttle launchings.

The Justice Department said Martin Marietta is not named in the suit. The suit says that Martin Marietta discovered Newberry’s alleged actions and has taken steps to credit the government with the improperly charged amounts.