Four New York State trade associations representing heavy construction contractors are suing the state over Gov. David Paterson�s announcement in March that the New York Dept. of Transportation would halt payments on all statewide capital construction projects not funded through federal stimulus dollars.
The suit, filed on April 16 in state Supreme Court, alleges that the state has violated construction contracts with hundreds of contractors working highway and bridge jobs by requiring them to either continue working without payment or stop working altogether. According to the suit, any firms deciding to stop work could themselves be charged with breach of contract, jeopardizing their chance to bid on future state jobs.