Lackawanna County Sues Contractor Over Defective Leak-Plagued McDade Pool Closure

Lackawanna County has filed a lawsuit against D&M Construction Unlimited, the contractor responsible for renovating the McDade Park swimming pool, due to ongoing leaks and defective work that have forced the pool to remain closed through the 2024 summer season. The $2.6 million project, awarded in early 2023 and originally scheduled for completion by July 2023, included building a new bathhouse and extensive pool renovations, but the pool has continuously leaked up to 12 inches of water daily since its handover, along with drainage and ponding issues near the bathhouse. Despite attempts by D&M to repair the pool in April 2024, the problems persisted, prompting the county to seek bids from other contractors to fix the defects and pursue damages for breach of contract. D&M has responded by filing a claim for unpaid funds and maintains confidence in their work amidst ongoing litigation. The county has also engaged a consultant to assess the extent of repairs needed and plans to issue a request for proposals soon, aiming to complete repairs in time for the pool to reopen next year. Legal proceedings include a writ of summons for the project’s surety company, Old Republic Surety Co., highlighting the county’s commitment to resolving the issue and holding the contractor accountable.