Structure Tone, Inc. v. Universal Services Group, Ltd.
929 N.Y.S. 2d 242 (App. Div. 2011)

This action arose out of the construction of a Whole Foods Market in the AOL/Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The general contractor, Structure Tone, Inc., (“STI”) retained Universal Service Group (“USG”) to waterproof the market. STI sued USG, claiming that the waterproofing failed on 15 occasions, causing water to leak from the Whole Foods Market into various tenant spaces below. STI undertook to remedy the problem, and as a result, allegedly sustained damages totaling $1.2 million. STI alleged causes of action for negligence and breach of contract, seeking as damages the costs of remediation, loss of profit, recovery of the amounts paid to USG and contract balances not paid by Whole Foods.Continue Reading NY Court Holds Subcontractor’s Contribution Claims Against Architect And Supplier Barred By Economic Loss Doctrine And Its Common-Law Indemnification Claims Precluded By Allegations Of Subcontractor’s Active Fault

Village of Sturtevant v. STS Consultants, Ltd.
2010 Wisc. App. LEXIS 433 (Wis. Ct. App. June 9, 2010)

The Court of Appeals of Wisconsin recently considered whether a design professional could maintain a claim for contribution against a subcontractor on the basis that the subcontractor had a duty to advise that the design was not suited for the intended application. The Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s dismissal of such claims on the basis that the subcontractor had no design or construction responsibility and therefore could not be a joint tortfeasor.Continue Reading Wisconsin Court Holds Subcontractor Had No Responsibility to Critique Design in Contract Documents