Contractor Suit Claiming Extortion By Utility Employees Set for Trial - ENR | McGraw-Hill Construction

Description:
Trial is set to start in early January in a Jefferson County, Ala., court for a lawsuit filed by Hand Contractors, Augaugaville, alleging that quality-control inspectors from Alabama Power Co. repeatedly extorted money and goods from the firm between 2003 and 2005. The suit claims utility employees “forced plaintiffs to pay kickbacks,” using threats of poor-performance reporting and contract loss to demand $250,000 in money and goods, including equipment, firearms, trucks and off-road vehicles. Hand, hired to control erosion around power lines and towers, claims breach of contract and extortion. A utility spokesperson declines comment but the company has denied wrongdoing in court documents.

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