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• Janette Leonidou Gives Presentation on New Labor Productivity Study
  A study regarding Impacts to Labor Productivity in Steel Framing and the Installation and Finishing of Gypsum Wallboard was recently released.  On July 14, 2010, Janette Leonidou gave a presentation with the study's author, Gerald H. Williams, Ph.D., P.E., to the Northern California Drywall Contractors Association regarding the study and its application.  
• Janette Leonidou Named Northern California Superlawyer
  Janette Leonidou was named a Northern California Superlawyer TM in construction law for the second year in a row.  The Superlawyer designation is awarded through an independent, peer-review process.  The August 2010 issue of San Francisco magazine contains a complete listing of the Superlawyer awards. 
• Court of Appeal Victory in Bid Protest Case
  Leonidou & Rosin obtained an important victory in a bid protest case that arose from the award of a multi-million dollar contract for work at the UCSF Mission Bay hospital complex.  Janette Leonidou represented the firm's client, Schram Construction, Inc., in administrative proceedings and in the tril court.  Bob Rosin briefed and argued the case in the Court of Appeal.  In a published opinion, a unanimous three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Schram Construction, Inc. The Court ruled that the University of California had violated the Public Contract Code and had "undermined the goal of stimulating competition in a manner conducive to sound fiscal practices and compromised the integrity of the selection process by failing to ensure procedural and substantive fairness."  The Court of Appeal found the contract awarded to Schram Construction, Inc.'s competitor was void and invalid.  The Court ordered the University to rebid the project in a manner that did not violate the law.
• Trial Court Entered Final Judgment of $2.3 Million In Favor of Leonidou & Rosin Client
  Earlier this year, the Contra Costa Superior Court entered final judgment in a hard-fought case in which Bob Rosin and the firm represented the prevailing party, a general contractor.  The case arose out of the construction of the Delta View Elementary School in Pittsburg, California.  The owner of the school, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, had asserted that the contractor was responsible for more than $1 million in additional costs as a result of delays to the project.  At trial, Bob Rosin represented the contractor and presented extensive evidence regarding the District's delays to the work and its improper withholding of payments owed. Trial lasted more than 20 court days.  The jury returned a verdict finding that the District had caused 125 days of delay to the project, as compared with only 8 days of delay by the contractor, and that as a consequence, the District owed an additional $253,589 for delay and acceleration costs.  The jury further found that the District had wrongfully withheld $1,204,956 in retention owed to the contractor.  Based on the jury's findings, the Hon. David B. Flinn entered judgment in favor of the contractor for $1,468,010 and dismissed the District's cross-complaint.  The judgment includes $695,981 in penalties assessed because of the District's wrongful withholding of payment.  In his formal statement of decision, Judge Flinn ruled that the penalties against the District has been incurred "only because of the incompetent and arrogant manner in which the School Board and its representatives managed this construction project."  Judge Flinn awarded our client $839,212 in attorney's fees and costs, bringing the total judgment to $2,315,371.  The District filed an appeal but has not contested the jury's verdict awarding the client its retention and damages for delay and disruption.  The only issue that the District has sought to appeal is the award of penalties and fees.  Interest of $162,075 per year currently is accruing on the judgment during the appeal.