THOUSAND OAKS : Contractor Sues City, Claiming Extra Costs

A contractor who poured concrete and installed drainage systems at the Civic Arts Plaza has sued the city of Thousand Oaks for more than $1 million, alleging that he has not been reimbursed for the extra costs of rushing to complete the project in the rain.

The contractor, Roy J. Hamilton Inc., claims in the suit that 53 days of bad weather during the winter of 1992-93 entitled him to a contract extension. The city refused to grant an extension, forcing the contractor to work in the rain. Working under those conditions caused the company to lose money, the contractor alleges.

City Atty. Mark Sellers said Friday that the city will consider the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court. But he said the damage figures are “way out of line.”

“Obviously, we feel it’s grossly inflated,” Sellers said. He said he was not surprised by the uit. And he said cost overruns by the contractor were not the fault of the city, but of the contractor.