Camden Council’s challenge to an adjudicator’s awards has been dismissed by the Technology and Construction Court. The Council had argued that the adjudicator appointed to the dispute with contractor Sprunt Ltd.
Lacked jurisdiction because there was no contract in writing and because the adjudicator had been appointed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and not the Council itself. The judge found that there had been a contract based on a letter Sprunt had sent to the Council offering to reduce its fees by 5%. Both parties ‘ conduct after this had established that a contract was in place. The court also rejected the argument that Camden should be the Adjudication Nominating Body. It is a contravention of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 for a contracting party to be an Adjudication Nominating Body as this would jeopardise the requirement that the adjudicator be impartial. …
Contracts in writing againRead More »