Downey : Overcharges Investigated
The Downey City Council on Tuesday requested further investigation into more than $11,000 in overcharges to the city by an air-conditioning contractor.
The contractor, Weatherite Service Corp. of the City of Industry, has admitted overcharging Downey $11,195 since 1985 for materials to service heating and cooling systems in the city’s Civic Center. The firm, saying the overcharge was the result of a computer error, has offered Downey a $13,000 settlement.
The council declined to accept the settlement after lawyer Richard C. Henderson alleged that city officials failed to properly review Weatherite invoices, which indicated that some overcharges were not covered by the settlement offer. The council directed City Manager Don Davis to further investigate the matter.
Henderson represents his father, Robert Henderson, who alerted city officials to the overcharges.
Robert Henderson owns Hendey Engineering Inc., the Downey firm that held the Civic Center heating and cooling maintenance contract until 1985, when Weatherite took over.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
