County Sues Contractor

Orange County filed a $1.3-million breach-of-contract suit against a Los Angeles company Thursday, contending that SEC Engineering failed to expand the county’s main jury room in Santa Ana.

According to the lawsuit, SEC Engineering was hired to expand and improve the jury room in the central courthouse but failed to do so. The lawsuit also names the company’s bond holder, Hartford Insurance Co.

Assistant County Counsel James F. Meade said the company did not complete the work “as required to specifications.”

“Basically, they stopped performing the work,” Meade said.

The county entered negotiations with Hartford but was unable to reach a satisfactory resolution. Construction was supposed to have been completed last year.

The county has since sought bids from other companies to finish the job and is attempting to recover the surety on the bond, Meade said.

SEC Engineering could not be reached for comment.