Obama Center subcontractor files $40M discrimination lawsuit against engineering firm for overruns
The subcontractor claims racial discriminatory practices forced it to do extra work that left it at risk of bankruptcy
A Chicago-based subcontractor is suing one of the firms involved in managing the construction of the Obama Presidential Center for $40 million, claiming racial discriminatory practices forced the firm to do extra work that left it at risk of bankruptcy, according to a lawsuit.
Robert McGee, the owner of II in One, which provided concrete and rebar services for the center starting in 2021, filed the lawsuit in federal court last month against New York-based Thornton Tomasetti, which oversees structural engineering and design services for the $830 million project.
McGee claims that Thornton Tomasetti changed standards and imposed new rules around rebar spacing and tolerance requirements that differed from the American Concrete Institute standards, which resulted in "excessively rigorous and unnecessary inspection" and massive overruns.
The allegations: racis' engineers made the contractors be too rigorous
However, Thornton Tomasetti defended its actions nearly a year ago, writing in a memo to the lawsuit that the subcontractors were "questionably qualified," and the delays were due to their own shortcomings.
McGee claims Thornton Tomasetti falsely accused II in One of lacking sufficient qualifications and experience to perform its work, while stating that non-minority-owned contractors were sufficiently qualified.
The counter-claim: No you just suck and qualified people should have been contracted instead of your bum butt. Look at this shit
The project has faced problems in the past. Construction was initially anticipated to get underway in 2018, but it was kicked back to 2021. It is scheduled to open sometime in 2026.
Some community activists claim the new center will cause prices for homes and rent to increase and may price many of those who live in the area. Environmental activists have also been critical of the project, arguing that it would remove too many trees and destroy some bird habitats.
Also this shit was supposed to be done awhile ago and everyone else is coming with their hands out
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$830 million?! The Obama Library could have signed Juan Soto instead. π€¦
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