New lawsuits filed over Investors Group field construction

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This article was published 26/10/2015 (3948 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two companies involved in the construction of Investors Group Field are battling over how to proceed in the wake of a precedent-setting Supreme Court of Canada decision about $4.2 million of disputed payments.

Since 2012, construction contractor Stuart Olson and steel fabricator Structal have been embroiled in a dispute over the delayed construction of the $210-million football stadium at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus. Stuart Olson was the primary contractor while Structal built $44 million worth of steel in the building.

Stuart Olson has sued Structal for $18 million, arguing the subcontractor delayed the stadium. Structal, in turn, demanded $15 million from Stuart Olson, arguing funds were improperly held back.

In September, the Supreme Court sided in favour of Structal in a side battle over $4.2 million worth of the disputed money. The court told Stuart Olson the money must be separate from lien bond the construction company filed with the court. This sort of dispute had never made it to the Supreme Court before.

On Oct. 17, Stuart Olson filed an application to confirm it has now set aside the trust funds in a satisfactory manner, and if not, seek advice about how to proceed. Stuart Olson placed the cash in a trust account, according to court documents.

On Oct. 19, Structal responded by filing a statement of claim against Investors Group Field contractor Stuart Olson Construction, stadium owner Triple B Stadium and former officers of both of those companies, including former City of Winnipeg chief administrator Phil Sheegl and CentreVenture president Angela Mathieson, in an attempt to recover the $4.2 million.

Structal alleges a breach of trust took place and the funds should have been distributed instead of being held back. The allegation has not been proven in court.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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This dispute is separate from a Triple B Stadium lawsuit against Stuart Olson and architect Ray Wan over the construction of the stadium.