PITTSBURGH – A group from Pittsburgh alleges a New Jersey bonding company has neglected to pay it in excess of $180,000 in contributions and wage deductions, and seeks to recover that amount through legal action.
Laborers’ Combined Funds Of Western Pennsylvania of Pittsburgh filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Nov. 27 versus Allegheny Casualty Company, of Newark, N.J.
The plaintiff serves as agent for the collection of employee wage deductions and advancement fund contributions required to be paid by employers to the Laborers’ District Council Dues Deduction Fund and Advancement Fund respectively.
Hand-in-hand, the defendant acts as the bonding company for R&B Contracting & Excavation, Inc. At all times relevant to the suit, R&B is a construction contractor which entered into an agreement with the Laborers’ Union, where R&B pledged to submit certain monthly payments to Laborers’ Funds for pension, welfare, industry and dues for the benefit of employees covered under such labor agreement.
The suit alleges R&B violated the agreement by failing to make payments of such contributions and wage deductions for work on two separate projects spanning December 2014 to September 2016, resulting in a total deficiency of $186,292.25, plus additional interest from Oct. 31 of this year.
“After receipt of a bond premium from contractor, defendant bonding company issued a certain payment bond assuring the payment of all wages and fringe benefits arising out of all work performed by contractor on the project. Pursuant to the terms of said bond, defendant bonding company is liable to pay to the funds a total of $186,292.25, plus additional interest from Oct. 31. Plaintiff has demanded payment of these amounts, but defendant has neglected and continues to neglect to pay such amounts,” the suit states.
For breach of contract, the plaintiff is seeking damages of $186,292.25, plus additional interest dating back from Oct. 31.
The plaintiff is represented by Jeffrey J. Leech and Neil J. Gregorio of Tucker Arensberg, in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-17-016205
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com