Our view: County lawsuit is justified

San Bernardino County earlier this month filed a lawsuit against HOK and Jacobs Engineering Group over those architectural and design firms’ cost overruns for the High Desert Detention Center expansion.

Given the history of this $145.4 million project, it appears the county did the right thing.

The jail expansion came in nearly $29 million over its construction budget, according to the county, which blames repeated faulty designs for smoke control. According to the county, those design flaws took two years for HOK and Jacobs to rectify.

The county’s lawsuit alleges breach of contract and negligence. It seeks $13.6 million in damages.

County officials have been negotiating with HOK and Jacobs for more than a year and say they are attempting to 'resolve this case through mediation.'

We hope that happens, but if it doesn’t we applaud the county for taking steps to protect the taxpayers. Cost overruns of this magnitude are not acceptable, particularly if they are indeed the result of faulty designs.

Taxpayer money doesn’t grow on trees, or in this case, jail cells. Companies contracting with San Bernardino County or any other government agency need to remember that.