Housing authority accuses architect and contractor of installing wrong doors

A municipal housing authority in Alton alleges an architectural firm and construction company negligently installed interior doors on the exterior of an apartment building.

The Housing Authority of the city of Alton (AHA) filed the lawsuit on March 27 in Madison County Circuit Court against Eggemeyer Associates Architects Inc. of Carbondale and Jun Construction Co. of Godfrey, alleging negligence.

AHA owns property known as the Oakwood Estates public housing units, located in the 800 block of Oakwood Avenue in Alton. AHA signed a contract with Eggemeyer on Aug. 14, 2012, to execute an exterior door replacement project at Oakwood Estates.

According to the complaint, the agreement defined services to include architectural and mechanical engineering, estimating and construction. The suit states that on March 5, 2013, AHA contracted with Jun to complete the project according to specifications provided by Eggemeyer, and that Jun performed the work under Eggemeyer’s supervision throughout the summer of 2013.

However, the doors furnished and installed by the defendants were not exterior, but rather were interior grade doors, according to the complaint. The suit alleges that Jun failed to inform AHA of the door quality, and Eggemeyer’s inspection allegedly revealed 161 defective doors, which began to peel, bubble, swell and otherwise fail to function as they were exposed to the elements.

Claiming it was not informed of the matter until early October 2014, AHA cites breach of contract and negligence, seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.

The Housing Authority is represented by John McCracken of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli and Rowland in Edwardsville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-402