Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Judge upholds airport contract

The Clark County Commission's decision to award a $21 million airport contract to Max Riggs Construction Co. over allegations of favoritism has been upheld by a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro on Tuesday ruled that the county did not violate laws regulating the bidding process. Nor did Commissioner Jay Bingham break state codes when he voted Oct. 3 on the contract, despite conflicts of interest.

"Where no abuse of discretion is found, the court cannot reverse the decision of the Clark County Commission because it might have decided differently," the judge wrote.

Contractors Kiewit Western Co., Gilbert Western Co. and Lake Mead Constructors sued the county and Max Riggs last fall after losing the contract to build a transportation system at McCarran International Airport. Kiewit bid $20.75 million.

Pro granted Clark County and Max Riggs summary judgment, ruling that they would have won on the merits of their defense.

He said that this bid was unique because of an error made by the county during initial bidding. The mistake forced the county to permit Max Riggs to change its estimated cost after it had been submitted.

The judge also said that while Bingham's vote could be questioned, the commissioner had disclosed prior to casting a vote that he was a childhood neighbor of the Riggs family and, at the time, was in escrow with the owner's sons.

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