A small school district in California loses yearlong breach of contract case. The jury issued a $12 million judgment against the school district. The school district entered into a contract with a solar contractor to build and install solar panels on its campuses. Then, the solar contractor sued the district for $18 million in damages. They claimed the district breached its contract by wrongfully terminating the deal in late 2011.
Solar Contractor Continuously Tried to Settle
Information is now surfacing that the solar contractor attempted to enter into settlement discussions with the district, even up until the filing of the suit. Some question whether the school district properly considered the settlement or mediation offers.
Before filing the claim, the solar contractor’s partner and attorney met with the district’s attorney. They went over the contract and its terms in detail. The solar contractor presented its case to the district. The contractor stated that it did not abandon the project and was willing to settle the matter prior to filing. The district allegedly failed to respond, and the suit commenced. During the trial, the solar contractor submitted a written offer to the district to mediate the case. But, the district allegedly failed to respond to this offer, as well.
In addition to the $12 million judgment, the school district has now accumulated over $1 million in expenses related to the litigation. Additionally, the district incurred another approximately $1 million in legal expenses. Furthermore, it continues to accrue fees in its attempt to reverse the judgment.
Take this as a lesson: when facing a breach of contract case, consider your game plan carefully, and be open-minded with regard to the possibility of a settlement. Review the contract or agreement at issue with a lawyer to appropriately determine the liability you may face and the costs associated with any course of action. A thorough pre (or early) lawsuit review of your case and circumstances may help you avoid costly expenses down the line.
If you have a breach of contract case, you need experienced counsel. We have handled countless breach of contract cases. Contact us at (312) 223-1699 and put our experience to work for you.
