How a $2.3B Florida highway project turned into a $80M courtroom fight

By: Sebastian Obando

Fort Lauderdale-based partner Matthew Skaroff was quoted in a Construction Dive article examining the high-profile litigation surrounding Florida’s $2.3 billion I-4 Ultimate Project, a public-private partnership dispute that resulted in an $80 million federal appeals court ruling. In the article, Matt shared insights on the risks associated with complex joint venture relationships, contractor termination strategies and the unique legal challenges that can arise on large-scale P3 infrastructure projects.

A $2.3 billion Florida highway project that once promised contractors about $255 million in profit eventually collapsed into more than half a billion dollars in losses, according to a recent federal appeals court ruling.

The filing offers contractors a peek into what can happen when a public-private partnership spirals into litigation. In April, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an $80 million ruling in favor of Skanska USA and Granite Construction against joint venture partner Lane Construction. The firms partnered on the I-4 Ultimate Project, a massive P3 reconstruction effort for the Florida DOT.