Dispute over Letzigrund: Implenia takes the matter to the Federal Supreme Court
Implenia is not backing down in its dispute with the City of Zurich over the work fee for the Letzigrund Stadium. The construction company is taking the September ruling of the Zurich Higher Court to the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne.
The dispute centers on the construction of the Letzigrund sports stadium. The city of Zurich had expressed around 1,400 change requests, which according to Implenia cost around CHF 23 million. The work price was originally CHF 100 million. In the dispute over the settlement, Implenia AG put its total claims at CHF 129.6 million and filed a lawsuit demanding payment of the sum outstanding according to its invoice.
The Zurich District Court upheld Implenia AG's claim, but awarded it only CHF 340,000, taking into account counterclaims by the City of Zurich. Implenia appealed against this. In the appeal proceedings, it reduced some positions but maintained the claim in the reduced amount of CHF 20 million. This appeal was dismissed by the Zurich High Court in mid-September.
According to Implenia, it now intends to file an appeal against the ruling with the Federal Supreme Court. The question of the total contractor's liability for the client's planning is of central importance not only for Implenia but for the entire total contractor industry, the company says. The decision of the highest instance should provide clarity on this issue. Implenia had built the Letzigrund Stadium ordered by the city of Zurich, including all the technical and scheduling changes requested by the city. The company therefore continues to assume that the outstanding invoices of around CHF 20 million will be paid. (ah)
