In the case of United States for the Use and Benefit of Metric Electric, Inc. v. CCB, Inc. and the Hanover Insurance Company, Civil Action No. 15-11934, in the United States District Court in Massachusetts, the court ruled in favor of Strang Scott’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing all of the plaintiff’s claims.
The case arose over construction work in the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston. The electrical subcontractor submitted periodic certifications that it paid its employees for work performed on the project. These statements turned out to be false. Six of the subcontractor’s employees brought suit against it for failure to pay wages over several months.
The general contractor terminated the subcontract shortly thereafter. The electrical subcontractor brought suit against the general contractor and its payment bond surety, claiming an unpaid subcontract balance was due. The claims were brought under the Miller Act, as well as for breach of contract, quantum meruit, and violations of M.G.L. c. 93A (the Massachusetts law governing unfair or deceptive business practices).
Attorney Christopher Strang argued that intentionally submitting false certified payroll documents constitutes a material breach of contract, justifying termination and also extinguishing any right to further payment. The judge agreed, finding “[i]ts failure to pay its employees in a timely fashion as required by state and federal law (as well as by the terms of the Subcontract), compounded by Sampson’s filing of perjured certifications of payment, bars Metric from entering any chamber of equity.”
Contractors should use caution when submitting certifications on public, or any, construction projects. Making false statements on these documents can preclude any future recovery of contract payments. Concerned contractors should contact an experienced Massachusetts construction attorney.
