HBGset to sue after stone coving collapse

HBG Kyle Stewart is suing Andre Vrona, trading as Ketton Architectural Stone and Masonry, for damages of £96,000 and interest and costs for breach of contract and negligence following the collapse of stone coving at 3 Brindleyplace, Birmingham in April 1998.

HBG was engaged as main contractor by developer Argent for the Brindleyplace building. Vrona was awarded the masonry subcontract, valued at £1.69m. The tender conditions provided that he would have fully competent and suitably experienced foremen on site to look after operations. The price was later revised downwards.

Vrona started work in December 1996 but complained about progress on site. HBG was concerned about poor contract administration and offered to take over responsibility for obtaining the stone supply from Histon Product.

In November 1997, Vrona withdrew from the site, but later reached agreement with HBG and completed the masonry forming the cornice to the rear of the seventh floor. But the cornice collapsed at 3am on April 18 1998.

Steel restraints were specified to anchor the cornice. HBG alleges that Vrona or his employees failed to install the steel restraints, failed to install the cornice in accordance with the drawing, and exposed it to a risk of collapse. HBG says that the building and the cornice needed extensive repair work, costing £96,000.