The Seminole Public School District has filed a lawsuit against the architectural firm and the construction company that built the new high school, alleging their negligence has caused damage to the five-year-old facility.

The suit names Wynn Construction Company, Inc., Michael Allen Riley Architecture, PLLC and EST, INC. n/k/a WSB, LLC as the defendants. According to court documents, the lawsuit was filed Dec. 30, 2024 in Seminole District Court.

Wynn was the general contractor hired by the district to construct the building and Wynn subcontracted all or part of the work. Riley was in charge of the design work and other architectural services, including civil engineering services, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and interior design services, and contract administration services during actual construction. EST was responsible for the geotechnical exploration of the project, and their work included completing borings, soils sampling, testing, and taking groundwater measurements, along with providing geotechnical recommendations.

“The architectural services performed by Riley were performed in a negligent manner, and were deficient in a number of areas and ways, resulting in damage to the project in question. Riley has failed to honor its promises, and has breached its agreement with Seminole, including material breaches. Riley failed to properly design aspects of the project in question, and has caused extensive damage to the property,” the suit alleges.

The school district also claims that work by Wynn, its subcontractors and others working by or on its behalf was “performed in a negligent manner and was deficient in a number of areas and ways, resulting in damage to the project.”

Construction issues listed in the lawsuit include the school’s windows, the exterior stone veneer, the foundation system and related soil excavation, fill materials, pad preparation the grading and drainage of the concrete pavement and flatwork, the asphalt pavement and ongoing construction issues related to construction warranty activities, and service and follow-up activities by the defendants.

“EST failed to properly conduct its geotechnical investigation regarding the project in question, which has caused extensive damage to the property. In particular, based on EST’s improper and deficient site investigation and recommendations and/or its improper and deficient construction materials testing and observations, the high school has suffered from excessive differential movement causing damage to the foundation and surrounding flatwork and pavement,” the district claims.

The school district is seeking a jury trial in the matter.

In September 2017, Seminole voters approved a $21.66 bond issue to build the new school on donated land located on the south side of Highway 9, just west of the Haney Center. The facility was officially opened in January 2020.