Firm denies responsibility for Ike damage

Houston---The Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation is suing the maker of Reliant Stadium's roof for $5 million in repairs needed after several panels were destroyed in Hurricane Ike.

An $8.8 million contract with Birdair Inc., called for the New York-based company to deliver a fabric membrane roof cover that would withstand winds at speeds higher than those recorded during Ike, according to the suit. Instead, the cover failed to hold during the 2008 hurricane, resulting in $5 million in damage to the roof and stadium, the lawsuit states.

Swapping blame
Birdair's general counsel, Karen Mathews, responded to a call for comment with an e-mail in which she stated, "There is no basis for the claim. We will deal with the specifics within the context of the lawsuit."

In court documents, Birdair denies it is at fault and asserts that it was the Sports & Convention Corporation's own negligence and that of a third party that caused the roof to fail.

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