UMass files suit against Adams Plumbing & Heating, 7 other firms, for collapsed kitchen ductwork | Local News

ADAMS – Adams Plumbing & Heating is one of eight contractors sued by the University of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Building Department for damage caused after the contractors’ installed kitchen ducts collapsed within three years.

Plaintiffs are demanding more than $ 2.8 million for the replacement and repair of wiring in a dining room on the UMass campus in Amherst. The lawsuit alleges, according to a complaint filed December 1 with the Hampshire Supreme Court, “damage caused by defendants’ faulty design, construction, testing, inspection and commissioning of kitchen exhaust systems”.

Amy Moresi, president of Adams Plumbing & Heating on Printworks Drive in Adams, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Other defendants in the lawsuit are Bruner / Cott & Associates Inc .; Garcia, Galuska & DeSousa Inc .; Halton Group Americas Inc .; Leftfield LLC; Lee Kennedy Co .; Tekon – Technical Consultant; and WSP Group.

The complaint shows that Adams Plumbing & Heating entered into a subcontracting contract with general contractor Lee Kennedy in February 2014. Their task was to “carry out the production and installation of the pipes for the kitchen exhaust systems”.

The project was completed in February 2015.

The complaint states: “By spring 2018, the pipes in the kitchen exhaust systems in the Blue Wall kitchen and dining area had collapsed.”

The two exhaust systems were supposed to convey kitchen air from 14 extractor hoods to be cleaned through filters and expelled from the building. In March 2018, a company sent to clean the system discovered a number of shortcomings, including multiple seam leaks and the collapse of ceiling-mounted plumbing in both systems.

It was found that the air pressure monitor also expired, meaning the exhaust system was pushing more air than necessary, which increased the pressure on the pipelines. According to the complaint, tests and inspections were also lacking at the time of completion.

“During the time the necessary repairs were being made, the Blue Wall Dining Hall was limited in operation for months. The limited operations resulted in loss of income and overtime spending for UMass, ”the lawsuit said.

As a result, plaintiffs allege that “negligent acts and omissions caused the ducts in the kitchen exhaust systems to collapse, resulting in significant injury and damage to plaintiffs”.

Aside from the cost of repairing the damage, the complaint claims interest on the amount, as well as legal fees, costs, and “any other and further relief that this court deems to be fair and reasonable”.

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