L-J, Inc. v. South Carolina State Highway Department

Littlejohn, Justice:

The plaintiffs-respondents, L-J, Inc. and Eastern Contractors, Inc. (Contractors) are experienced road-building contractors. The two corporations undertook the project here involved as a joint venture; they are owned and/or controlled by Grady Jordan and Barney Jordan, who have built roads for the South Carolina Highway Department for more than 30 years. The defendant-appellant, South Carolina State Highway Department (Department) is a division of State Government charged with the duty of building and maintaining highways.

The contractors successfully bid, in the amount of…