IRVING, Texas–LAWFUEL – Law News Network – A Jefferson County, Texas, jury reached an unexpected verdict today in the case of Conex International v. Fluor Enterprises Inc., ruling in favor of Conex and awarded $98.8 million in damages related to a 2001 construction project.
Lawyers representing Fluor have announced plans to appeal the decision, and said it is not probable that any judgment based on this verdict would be affirmed. Fluor strongly believes that this verdict is supported neither by the facts nor the law, and will pursue all possible avenues for reconsideration or appeal. Fluor will not take a charge reflecting the verdict amount.
In 2001, Atofina (now part of Total Petrochemicals Inc.) hired Conex to be the mechanical contractor on a project at Atofina’s refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. Fluor was also hired to provide certain engineering advice to Atofina on the project. There was no contract between Conex and Fluor. Later in 2001 after the project was complete, Conex and Atofina negotiated a final settlement for extra work on the project. In lawsuit allegations years afterward, Conex demanded that Fluor should pay Conex the balance of the extra work charges that Atofina did not pay in the settlement. Conex also asserted that Fluor somehow interfered with Conex’s contract and business relationship with Atofina. The jury’s verdict awarded damages for the extra work and the alleged interference.
Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) provides services on a global basis in the fields of engineering, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance, and project management. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor is a FORTUNE 500 company with revenues of $13.2 billion in 2005. For more information, visit www.fluor.com.
(FLRG)
