Lang
1/28/23
A judge has reaffirmed a $12.8 million jury award given to Modern Piping in the company’s dispute with the University of Iowa.
Judge Chad Kepros ruled on Wednesday that the jury’s original decision last October was supported by the evidence presented. Lawyers for the UI and the Iowa Board of Regents were seeking to have the judgement thrown out and a new trial scheduled, arguing the jury did not fully understand the evidence.
Last year’s jury verdict determined that the UI wrongfully blocked the American Arbitration Association from originally mediating the dispute.
In Wednesday’s ruling, Kepros also awarded Modern Piping an extra $3.1 million the company had been seeking for what it termed “prejudgment interest”, making the new total $15.9 million.
Modern Piping had previously been awarded $21.5 million when a judge ruled in favor of the contractor after an arbitrator determined they deserved additional payment for work done on the hospital and Hancher Auditorium.
An earlier story about the case can be found here.