Jury awards local architecture firm $1.65 million in contract dispute

A Richland County jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a $1.65 million verdict for architecture firm Stevens & Wilkinson (“S&W”) against the City of Columbia, the State Newspaper reported in a July 30, 2015 article by John Monk. The firm’s suit against the City sought to recoup architectural and engineering fees from services performed on a proposed Vista hotel that was never built.

The jury of eight women and four men returned a unanimous verdict for the architecture firm. The State reports that an alternate juror who was excused from deliberations told the newspaper he too would have voted against the city.

Dick Harpootlian is quoted in the paper as having told the jury that, “A deal’s a deal,” and that the jury would have a chance to “fight City Hall.”

S&W Chairman Bobby Lyles was quoted after the verdict came in as saying, “I represent alot of people within my firm, we’re employee owned and they have taken this hit like I have and it was my mission to try and get it back. Thanks to Dick Harpootlian and his crew we were able to do that.”

The State’s full coverage, including a video of Mr. Lyles comments, is available here.

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