Lafayette School Board Settles Lawsuit With Design Firms

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The Lafayette Parish School Board voted last night to approve a settlement agreement offered by two design firms that were party to a lawsuit the board filed in 2008 alleging shoddy work in the design and construction of one of its schools.

The school board filed the 2008 lawsuit against the school's contractor, Ratcliff Construction; Corne-Lemaire Group, its architectural design firm; and Beaullieu & Associates, its engineering firm.

The suit claims faulty design and construction led to $2 million in repairs needed at the school for water intrusion and related damages.

The school, then known as N.P. Moss Middle School, is now the David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy.

The Advocate reports the details of the settlement were not released Wednesday by the board's attorney, Tim Basden.

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