June 28, 2017
Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford, Connecticut was recently named the “Best Double-A Ballpark in America” by Ballpark Digest. While this recognition is of course an honor, it’s even more meaningful considering the hurdles that had to be overcome during the stadium’s construction.
Murtha Cullina’s Construction practice achieved a victory in April 2017 when Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford, Connecticut opened for its first season of baseball. The stadium’s opening marked the culmination of nearly a year of successful legal representation by Murtha Cullina, during what was described as a project management nightmare.
Dunkin’ Donuts Park originally was slated to open in the spring of 2016. However a string of missteps from funding issues to construction problems caused development to halt, leaving the stadium incomplete. This forced Hartford’s new minor league baseball team, the Yard Goats, to play their entire inaugural season away from home.
In May of 2016, the City of Hartford hired Murtha Cullina construction attorneys Leslie P. King and Loring A. Cook, III to represent them for the remainder of the stadium project. Shortly thereafter, in early June, acting on advice from its attorneys, the City terminated the original project developer and design builder.
After the termination, Ms. King and Mr. Cook helped the City negotiate an extremely complicated takeover agreement with Arch Insurance to complete the project. The agreement provided that Arch would complete the project without any cost to Hartford taxpayers, an extremely important goal of the City’s administration.
In October 2016, construction resumed after a 130 day stoppage. As construction was underway, Murtha continued to provide guidance to the City as issues arose with the ultimate goal of completion for the 2017 season. After several months of hard work, the Yard Goats played their home opener at Dunkin Donuts Park on April 13, 2017.
Ms. King and Mr. Cook, along with other Murtha construction attorneys, continue to represent the City of Hartford in the ensuing litigation and arbitration proceedings stemming from the stadium project.
Murtha Cullina’s Construction practice has been recognized as legal leader in the industry for more than 60 years, successfully representing public and private owners, developers, lenders, general contractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and material suppliers in all aspects of construction law. Ms. King is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Department with a practice dedicated to all aspects of Construction law. She represents residential and commercial owners in construction disputes and litigation, and provides contract drafting and negotiation services. Mr. Cook has a broad and extensive range of experience in commercial law and complex civil litigation, both trial and appellate, with a passion for construction law.
About Murtha Cullina LLP
With more than 100 attorneys in six offices throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, Murtha Cullina LLP offers a full range of legal services to meet the local, regional and national needs of our clients. Our practice encompasses litigation, regulatory and transactional representation of businesses, governmental units, non-profit organizations and individuals. Core practice areas include litigation, finance and lending, insurance recovery, labor and employment, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, construction, energy, health care, trusts and estates, affordable housing, real estate, land use and retail and hospitality.
Murtha Cullina is the exclusive member firm in Connecticut for Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in 100+ countries worldwide; and the exclusive Connecticut member firm of State Law Resources, an international network of independent law firms. For more information, visit murthalaw.com.
Related Information
