87 Pa. Commw. 162

Acme Fabricators and Welders, Inc., and Greulich, Inc., Petitioners v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, Respondent.

Argued October 16, 1984,

before President Judge Crumlish, Jr. and Judges Rogers, Williams, Jr., MacPhail, Doyle, Barry and Colins.

*163 James G. Larrimer, Dougherty, Larrimer <fk Lee, for petitioners.

Michael J. McCaney, Jr., Assistant Counsel, with him, Spencer A. Manthorpe, Chief Counsel, and Jay G. Waldman, General Counsel, for respondent.

January 22, 1985:

Opinion by

President Judge Crumlish, Jr.,

Acme Fabricators and Welders, Inc. (Acme) and Greulich, Inc. (Greulich) appeal the Board of Claims’ order dismissing their contract claim against the Department of Transportation (DOT). We affirm.

DOT awarded Acme a highway improvement contract which included the replacement of an existing wooden bridge with an open steel decking bridge. The contract, incorporating Section 523 of the Administrative Code of 1929 (Code),1 prohibited the use of any materials manufactured in West Virginia (a state which boycotts out-of-state materials). Part of the steel used in the decking supplied to Acme by Greulich was rolled in West Virginia. DOT rejected the decking because it contained materials manufactured in West Virginia. Acme and Greulich brought suit to recover the cost of manufacturing a substituted decking. Although the Board dismissed their claim on the merits, it found DOT’s statute of limitation defense to be ‘ ‘ substantial. ’ ’

*164DOT again contends that this action is barred by the six-month statute of limitations.2 We agree.

The statute of limitations begins to run when the amount due under the claim is known and the party is able to advise the Commonwealth department involved of the claim and file a concise and specific written statement with the Board. Department of Community Affairs v. Craftech International, Ltd., 72 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 162, 456 A.2d 247 (1983).3

A review of the record discloses that, by November 5,1979, both Acme and Greulich knew the amount due under their claim because the project was then accepted as complete by DOT. As that time, Acme and Greulich were able to prepare the required claim statement. Therefore, the statute of limitations began to run on November 5, 1979, and expired on May 5, 1980. The complaint was not filed with the Board until May 20,1980.

We hold that this action is barred by the statute of limitations.4

Affirmed.

Order

The order of the Board of Claims, Docket No. 690 dated November 1,1983, is affirmed.

Acme Fabricators & Welders, Inc. v. Commonwealth
87 Pa. Commw. 162

Case Details

Name
Acme Fabricators & Welders, Inc. v. Commonwealth
Decision Date
Jan 22, 1985
Citations

87 Pa. Commw. 162

Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania

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