Tate sues duo for basement flood damage

The Tate Gallery has launched a legal battle for compensation of more than £5m after a flood in its half-built basement galleries six years ago.

The trustees of the Tate are suing Specialist Services (Electrical) Ltd, which is in liquidation, and Duffy Construction after huge amounts of water caused extensive damage and disruption to site works at the Tate Great Britain Gallery, according to a High Court writ.

The Tate blames the two companies' negligence and breach of contract for the problems, which were allegedly caused by the failure of a repair to a temporary water supply to the site works.

[Contract Journal, 1 June 2006, p 3]