Lawsuit over renovations at ambassador’s mansion in New Rochelle moves forward

The Permanent Mission of Chad to the United Nations won a round in its battle over the cost of renovations at a historic mansion in New Rochelle. A U.S. District Court judge ruled last week that that Chad can defend itself in a $1.4 million contract dispute over work at the ambassador’s residence, a 11,216-square-foot Gothic mansion at 157 Davenport Avenue, according to Westchester Business Journal. Hilt Construction and Management Corp of New Jersey said it did nearly $3.9 million in renovations, including $228,000 for 19 new bathrooms and $201,500 for a heated pool and deck, and that Chad still owes $1.4 million. The case has been in and out of U.S. District Court Judge Vincent L. Briccetti’s courtroom and drawn in the State Department, which argued in favor of immunity for official U.N. missions. Judge Briccetti gave Chad an Oct. 20 deadline to formally respond to the lawsuit. [WBJ]