NORMAN — A Cleveland County district judge on Tuesday upheld a temporary injunction to stop renovations at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium over a dispute regarding the contract to provide steel and concrete panels.
Thad Balkman ruled in favor of HME Inc., a Kansas corporation that sued OU, contending it awarded the steel contract to Oklahoma-based W&W Steel in violation of state law.
All sides agree that HME submitted the lowest bid, but OU has contended that it wanted a contractor with more experience in stadium projects.
OU asked HME to post a $35 million bond to cover any potential damages incurred by the construction delays, but Balkman ordered a bond of $178,700 instead, calling OU’s request “far beyond the reasonable scope of damages defendant OU may suffer from stopping or not beginning construction on the project.