Cooling-off period called on library

Friday, July 20, 2001 | 11:20 a.m.

The state Public Works Board has endorsed a cooling-off period in the litigation over the Lied Library at UNLV, which was hit with cost overruns and delays.

The contractor, Tibesar Construction, has sued the state, claiming it is owed $6 million. The state has filed a counter suit for breach of contract and for fraud. The state says there is more than $1 million in defective work that must be corrected at the library that cost more than $40 million.

Johnson said Tibesar and other subcontractors have agreed to a 60-day stay so both sides can evaluate the claims of the opposition. And there could be mediation sessions to resolve some of the claims.

The problem, said Johnson and co-counsel Kirk Williams, is that Helix Electric, one of the subcontractors, wants to go forward with its suit against the contractor. Helix says it is owed $2.6 million for its work on the library.

Williams said it makes sense to resolve some of the issues before getting into a court battle. But Williams and Johnson said it would not be in the state's interest if all the parties did not agree to the 60 day delay.

Johnson said if Helix won't agree then the legal action will go forward.

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