2016 Year in Review No. 9: Chateau Pensmore owner battles contractors in $63M suit

CHRISTIAN COUNTY, MAY 12—Chateau Pensmore owner Steve Huff is embroiled in a $63 million lawsuit filed against contractors of his mansion in Christian County.

The suit alleges Humboldt, Kan.-based The Monarch Cement Co. and Ozark-based City Wide Construction Products Co. deliberately shorted the use of specialized Helix rebar product by 25-30 percent when constructing the 72,000-square-foot residence.

The suit filed by Steven T. Huff Family LLC had four actions related to extending discovery deadlines, according to court documents. The motions, in part, ask the defendants to release to the court correspondence documents related to the project, including with Huff’s, Green Bay, Wis.-based TF Forming Systems and Ann Abor, Mich.-based Polytorx LLC.

TF Forming’s patented insulated concrete forms are central to Pensmore, which was designed to withstand EF5-level winds. Polytorx owns the Helix patent.

The original complaint alleges the misconduct occurred between Oct. 28, 2009, and Nov. 20, 2012.

According to the complaint, Monarch Cement and City Wide Construction allegedly moved a large amount of Helix products to a storage area, hidden from Pensmore representatives.

Steven T. Huff Family LLC claims a whistleblower came forward with firsthand knowledge of the “fraud, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, tortious interference with business expectancy and other related causes of action.”

In addition to the $63 million in damages, Huff also seeks exemplary damages to deter the defendants from committing further alleged fraud.

A trial was slated for late November, but the date came and passed with no action.