Justice Department accuses company of delivering unusable patrol boats
Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport last week asked a federal judge to move the government's civil suit against the company from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans. "The interests of justice support transferring this case to the Eastern District of Louisiana and Louisiana would serve as a more convenient forum for the parties and witnesses than the District of Columbia," the company's lawyers said in their filing with the federal District Court in Washington.
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View full sizeThe USCG Matagorda was the first of eight ships lengthened by Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport. Plans for lengthening more ships were scrapped in 2005 after the Matagorda's hull buckled. A subsequent Coast Guard investigation concluded the company had overstated the longitudinal strength of the hull.The request notes that the Justice Department opposes their motion.
The Justice Department is seeking unspecified damages against Bollinger, which is charged in the lawsuit with delivering unusable patrol boats it was under contract to refurbish and upgrade. The ships were to be extended from 110 feet to 123 feet.
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1406. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1404.
