S&B/BIBB Hines PB3 Joint Venture v. Progress Energy Florida

S&B/BIBB Hines PB3 Joint Venture v. Progress Energy Florida, Inc.
2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 2875 (11th Cir. Feb. 11, 2010)

S&B/BIBB Hines PB3 Joint Venture, S&B Engineers and Contractors, LTD (“S&B) agreed to perform engineering, procurement and construction on a fixed-price basis (the “Contract”) for two electric generating plants in Polk County for the project owner and defendant, Project Energy Florida, Inc. (“Project Energy”). During the course of construction, four hurricanes struck Polk County resulting in a shortage of labor and materials and a corresponding increase in the cost of construction for S&B. S&B sought approximately $40 million in additional compensation as a result of this extraordinary event. S&B’s claim for additional compensation was denied by Project Energy and S&B filed suit. The district court dismissed the majority of S&B’s breach of contract and other claims on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion holding that the fixed price Contract precluded additional compensation beyond the Contract price.
Continue Reading U.S. Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of EPC Contractor’s Claim for Damages Caused by Four Hurricanes, Concluding That Terms of Force Majeure Clause Barred Recovery of Increased Costs