Opinion ID: 1288968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Delays caused by gross negligence

Text: The final exception to a no-damage-for delay clause referenced in the district court's certification order is gross negligence. Several jurisdictions have adopted this exception. See North Star Contracting Corp. v. City of New York, 203 A.D.2d 214, 611 N.Y.S.2d 11 (1994); Greiner, supra ; Gregory, supra ; Newberg, Inc. v. Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, 153 Ill.App.3d 918, 106 Ill.Dec. 858, 506 N.E.2d 658 (Ill. 1987); Corinno Civetta supra; White Oak Corp v. Dept. of Transp, supra. We find that willful, wanton, reckless conduct, i.e., gross negligence would, from a policy standpoint, give rise to a breach of the implied obligation of good faith and fair dealing. Accordingly, we find adoption of the gross negligence exception is consistent with South Carolina law.