The contractor building the new State Route 99 tunnel in Seattle had filed a $480 million claim with the state to cover the cost of repairing and reinforcing Bertha. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy ruled that under the design-build contract, Seattle Tunnel Partners cannot seek money for damages to its equipment, and only seek reimbursement for other losses, like time delays.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) argued the contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) waived its right to recover money from damage to equipment, including the tunnel boring machine by signing the contract.
(more on the latest ruling in the legal battle between STP and WSDOT...)