Lawsuits piling up over unpaid work at now-bankrupt Heywood hospital

Image | Courtesy Rockland Trust A rendering of surgical pavilion expansion at Heywood Hospital in Gardner

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Consigli Construction, a Milford-based construction firm with more than 1,600 employees across the country, is the focus of another lawsuit related to lack of payments for work done on Heywood Memorial Hospital’s Grafton surgical pavilion, following a September lawsuit where Consigli sued the now bankrupt Heywood and other affiliated parties regarding its own difficulties in collecting payment for work done at the site.

Heywood announced in June it was stopping construction on the $29-million project, which would have had six operating rooms. The move came shortly after Heywood removed President and CEO Winfield Brown from his role.

The lawsuit against Consigli was filed in Worcester County Superior Court on Monday by Structures Unlimited, a New Hampshire-based company specializing in the construction and installation of skylights.

The company claims Consigli owes it $426,776 for subcontract work done by Structures Unlimited at the Heywood site, saying Consigli has failed to provide payment despite repeated requests.

This is the second lawsuit filed against Consigli by a subcontractor involved with the Heywood surgical pavilion. Earlier in November, S&F Concrete Contractors of Hudson filed a lawsuit in Worcester County Superior Court, claiming over $500,000 in unpaid bills.

This new lawsuit comes as Consigli has had difficulties in collecting payment from Heywood Memorial Hospital and other parties involved in the construction of the surgery wing.

In September, Consigli filed a lawsuit in Worcester County Superior Court against Heywood, Rockland Trust of Hanover and Waterstone Properties Group, a Needham-based real estate firm, over allegations of missed payments and a breach of contract regarding work performed at the site.

That suit claims Waterstone owes Consigli over $9 million and requested a mechanic’s lien on the surgical pavilion property.

Heywood Healthcare, the entity operating the hospital in Gardner and another hospital in Athol, filed for bankruptcy in October, citing an expensive medical record transition, workforce challenges, and supply chain issues.

Consigli did not immediately return a voicemail message from WBJ requesting comment regarding the lawsuit.