Three government buildings in Lawrence -- including the main City Hall building -- were built incorrectly and require substantial repairs, according to a lawsuit filed by the city.
 
Some of the repairs already have been made, including mold remediation, but the city is seeking damages from several contractors, the construction manager and the government holding corporations that technically own the buildings.
 
Consultants found problems with the buildings after employees complained of being sick in early 2004. An investigation uncovered "significant mold infestation," according to the suit.
 
"The buildings had inadequacies that are significant in different ways," said F. Ronalds Walker, an attorney for the city. "We believe the total damage is around $300,000."
 
Although the suit doesn't detail specific problems except for the mold, it claims that repairs have been needed at three buildings:
 
-   The Lawrence Government Center, which was built in 1997 and opened in 1998. The city says that in addition to the mold problem, windows, gutters and downspouts were installed incorrectly. Masonry and grading at the site also have problems, says the suit.
 
-   The "pigeon building" or Community Activity Building at 5302 N. Franklin Road, which the city bought in 2001 and was previously used by a pigeon club. The lawsuit claims ventilation systems and drainage on the site were not constructed properly.
 
 
-   Fire Station No. 3, 4904 N. German Church Road. The lawsuit says the building's downspouts, wall joints and insulation are not proper.
 
At the center of the issue is Micheal Couch, who was construction manager of the Government Center, according to the lawsuit. He was sued individually, as was his company, the Merit Group.
 
Couch released a written response Wednesday afternoon:
 
"The mayor has abused the court system by filing a groundless lawsuit against Tiburon, Inc., The Merit Group and Micheal Couch," the statement said. "The claims against Tiburon, Merit Group and Micheal Couch are rubbish and we intend to countersue the city for damaging our good name."
 
Also named in the lawsuit are the Lawrence Government Center Building Corp. and the Lawrence Fire Station Building Corp., the holding companies that own those two buildings.
 
Both entities are run by former city officials -- including former Mayor Thomas Schneider -- but have been administratively suspended by the state government for failing to pay dues required by corporations.
 
David Rees, who represented the two corporations while he was city attorney of Lawrence, said he is not familiar with the lawsuit.
 
Rees said the buildings were constructed according to Indiana laws on bidding and that architects and engineers supervised the process.
 
Current City Attorney Stan Hirsch said it has not been determined whether his office represents the building corporations. He said they currently have no attorney.
 
Hirsch, who also represents the city in its claim against the building corporations, said he does not expect the city to seek money from them but had to name them in the lawsuit.
 
Besides Couch and the building corporations, several other contractors are named in the lawsuit.
 

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