Mid Am. Constr., L.L.C. v. Univ. of Akron

This case involved a dispute between Mid America Construction (MAC) and the University of Akron over a terminated construction contract. MAC was working on a university construction project when delays occurred. The University blamed MAC for the delays and terminated their contract "for cause," meaning they claimed MAC had failed to meet their obligations. MAC argued the termination was wrongful and that the delays weren't their fault. The Ohio Court of Claims ruled in favor of MAC. The court found that the University wrongfully terminated the construction contract without valid justification. After reviewing conflicting evidence, the court determined that MAC's witnesses were more credible than the University's witnesses. The evidence showed that many construction delays were actually caused by the construction manager, project architect, and other contractors—not MAC. The court ordered the University to pay MAC the unpaid amounts from their contract plus damages for the delays. This ruling matters for workers because it shows that employers cannot simply blame employees or contractors for problems that aren't their fault. Courts will examine the actual evidence and credible testimony to determine who was really responsible for workplace issues, protecting workers from unfair treatment and wrongful termination.