Wembley court fiasco angers judge

Multiplex and its Wembley steel contractor Cleveland Bridge (CBUK) have been accused of wasting time and money by the judge in charge of the long-running High Court case.

Mr Justice Jackson said the case, for which damages are due to be decided next month, could have been resolved via 'commercial negotiation' in 2006. Making a judgement that denied CBUK the chance to increase the value of its counterclaim by £1.2m, Jackson said it was too late to amend the pleadings and submit fresh evidence. It is the second such defeat the steel contractor has suffered.

Contract Journal (CJ) reported the full extent of the judge's wrath: 'it's like the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra [in Greek mythology],' he said. 'Every time the court cuts off one head of dispute by deciding a preliminary issue, at least two new heads of dispute pop up. Despite that circumstance, the present litigation must be brought to trial and to a final conclusion. The Hydra must be slaughtered.'

CBUK first took Multiplex to court in 2004 after it walked off the Wembley job alleging it had not been paid all the money it was owed. Since then both companies have various claims and counter claims against one other.

In related news, Multiplex head Jayne McGivern has quit after the company's new Canadian owner Brookfield announced plans to employ two chief executives, Construction News (CN) reported.

McGivern joined the company two years ago and was promoted to CEO last September, but after the takeover by asset manager Brookfield in November she was asked to share the role with Brookfield's Scott Parsons. Parsons will now share CEO duties with chairman James Tuckey.