Star Wars creator’s billion-dollar museum sued by contractors

Four contractors have sued Star Wars creator George Lucas’s museum in Los Angeles over nonpayment, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The largest claim comes from electrical contractor J.E. Snyder Electric, which is seeking nearly $1.9 million. Snyder was a subcontractor to Siemens, which according to the firm has not paid.

Snyder’s lawsuit names the museum, general contractor Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co. and subcontractor Siemens Industry, Inc. According to the firm, the building was deliberately classified as private to get around the rules for public construction projects, including the requirement for a payment bond.

Leasing the land for $30 a year

The state leases the land to the museum for $30 a year for 99 years. Snyder argues that this makes the project public. According to the museum’s attorney, such nominal leases are not unusual in Los Angeles, and the Natural History Museum in the same park pays $1 a year.

The museum calls it an ordinary payment dispute between Snyder and Siemens, with the museum being dragged in to apply pressure. The building was privately funded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson. According to the museum’s attorney, the lease is part of a larger agreement under which the museum has, among other things, built parking for the state and will operate a public park.

Siemens and Hathaway Dinwiddie declined to comment.

Hathaway Dinwiddie has also sued the museum for breach of contract. The remaining claims range from $272,000 to $439,000.

The unpaid invoices reportedly grew during the delays. The opening was pushed back from 2021 to this fall.

The museum and Hathaway Dinwiddie have asked the court to dismiss several of the claims, according to the Daily Journal.