Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01163/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01163-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 130
Nature of Suit: Miller Act
Cause of Action: 40:270 Miller Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel 

LOU MARTIN d.b.a. L.T. ELECTRIC,

Plaintiff,

v.

K.O.O. CONSTRUCTION, INC., a California 

Corporation; TRAVELERS CASUALTY 

ANDS URETY COMPANY OF AMERICA, 

a Connecticut corporation; and DOES 1-20, 

inclusive. 

Defendants.

Case No. 1:15-cv-1163-BAM

ORDER SETTING TELEPHONIC STATUS 

CONFERENCE 

Date: January 21, 2016

Time: 9:00AM 

Courtroom: Department 8

Judge: Hon. Barbara A. McAuliffe 

DIRECTING THE PARTIES TO SUBMIT 

STATUS REPORT 

STATUS REPORT DUE: January 14, 2016

Plaintiff, Lou Martin, an individual d.b.a. L. T. ELECTRIC (“Plaintiff”) initiated this 

action on July 24, 2015. Plaintiff alleges that on or about April 15, 2013, Defendant K.O.O. 

Construction, Inc. entered into a written subcontract with Plaintiff L. T. Electric to perform 

certain electrical work on a public work of improvement known as Mental Health Programs 

Building, VA CCHCS, Fresno, CA., Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), Contract No. 

VA261-C-0528 in exchange for payment of $438,524.00 subject to changes for additional, 

changed, or deleted work. Thereafter, the Subcontract was amended by approved change orders 

which increased the amount due under the Subcontract to a total price of $494,252.76. Plaintiff 

Case 1:15-cv-01163-BAM Document 28 Filed 11/30/15 Page 1 of 3
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also has an outstanding change order request in the amount of $32,500.00 for construction 

interruptions and delays that remains unpaid, for a total price of $526,752.76. Defendant K.O.O. 

as principal, and Defendant Travelers, as surety, executed and delivered payment bond Payment 

Bond No. 063-SB-105197664 to the United States guaranteeing the payment to all persons 

supplying labor and materials in the prosecution of the work provided for in Contract No. 

VA261-C-0528 under the provisions of 40 U.S.C. §§ 3131 – 3133. Between April 15, 2013 and 

May 21, 2014, Plaintiff furnished labor, material, services or equipment, or a combination of 

these pursuant to the subcontract. Defendant K.O.O. has paid Plaintiff $444,827.48, leaving an 

unpaid amount now due and owing of $81,925.28. Plaintiff asserts causes of action against 

Defendant K.O.O. and Defendant Travelers on the Miller Act Payment Bond, and against 

Defendant K.O.O for Breach of Contract, and Unjust Enrichment Plaintiff seeks recovery of the 

unpaid $81,925.28, for penalty interest, attorney fees, and costs of suit.

On November 23, 2015, the Court held a status conference to discuss the status of the 

case. Counsel explained that the outcome of this suit is largely dependent upon action/comment 

from the Veterans Affairs Administration. The dispute centers on correction of a breaker. The 

Plaintiff and the Defendant and the VA, as owner of the project, cannot come to terms on 

correction of the problem and payment for the correction. This case cannot be resolved without 

input from the VA as to the correction. Thus, in order for the parties to receive a full and fair 

opportunity to conduct discovery in this case and otherwise litigate this claim for relief, the 

parties need additional time to communicate with the VA. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Counsel for L.T. Electric and K.O.O. are directed to meet and confer and 

communicate in writing to the VA outlining their collective positions on this 

contract dispute and request a timely response, should be submitted to the 

Veterans Administration by December 11, 2015; 

2. The Court finds that proceeding in this action without a position from the VA 

would waste judicial resources and compromise the substantive or procedural 

rights of the parties.

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3. On or before January 14, 2016, Plaintiff and Defendants SHALL file a Joint 

Status Report detailing the Veterans Administration’s response to the parties’ 

joint letter; 

4. The Court SETS a Status Conference for January 21, 2016, at 9:00 AM, in 

Courtroom 8, before United States Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe. 

At the conference, Counsel should be prepared to discuss the status of the dispute 

in light of the VA’s response.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 24, 2015 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01163-BAM Document 28 Filed 11/30/15 Page 3 of 3