Lauren McLaughlin Obtains Compete Defense Verdict From Federal Jury For Performance Bond Surety Client

Lauren P. McLaughlin of BrigliaMcLaughlin recently obtained a defense verdict from a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on behalf of International Fidelity Insurance Company (“IFIC”).

IFIC had supplied an AIA A312 performance bond to guarantee the performance of Carnell Construction Corporation (“Carnell”) on the Blane Square Project in Danville, Virginia. The Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority (“DRHA”) was the owner of the project, and had brought IFIC into the litigation initiated by Carnell against DRHA via a counter-claim. DRHA sought damages against IFIC and Carnell in excess of $500,000 for, among other things, performing defective work and failing to complete the Project in a timely manner.

Commencing on February 7, 2011, the parties conducted an 8-day jury trial before the Honorable Jackson L. Kiser. After 2 days of deliberation, the jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of IFIC. In addition, the jury denied DRHA any damages against the Carnell, and awarded $3.1 million in compensatory damages against DHRA on Carnell’s racial discrimination claim.

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