Friday, July 19, 2002
Dickson says foundation is trying to drag out proceedings
National D-Day Memorial's architect files motion for $900,000 judgment

The memorial foundation has said it doesn't know exactly how much it owes architect Byron Dickson.

By JAY CONLEY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   BEDFORD - The architect of the National D-Day Memorial has asked a judge to award him nearly $900,000 for work he did on the memorial for which he has not been paid.

    Byron Dickson, president of Dickson Architects & Associates in Roanoke, filed a motion for summary judgment Wednesday against the National D-Day Memorial Foundation in Bedford County Circuit Court. The filing is in response to papers filed by the foundation last month in which the foundation contended it doesn't know exactly how much it owes Dickson.

    The motion states that Dickson is owed $869,000 for work done at the memorial.

    "My billing file is at least 5 inches thick," Dickson said. "The bills were prepared with what I would call a great deal of due diligence."

    The foundation in June filed court documents that seemed to cast doubt on the claim by debtors that it owes a total of $2.8 million to Dickson and to Coleman-Adams Construction, which built most of the memorial. But those same papers did not state how much the foundation believes it owes.

    Dickson said the foundation's dispute of the money owed is an attempt to drag out court proceedings.

    "I've been told not to expect any quick action," Dickson said, estimating that it could be at least a year before a final judgment is made.

    The $25 million memorial has been struggling with a $5 million debt since it opened in June 2001. Since then, all construction has shut down. Coleman-Adams and Dickson filed liens against the foundation after it failed to present them a payment plan earlier this year.

    The financial problems sparked a federal investigation that led to the indictment of former president Richard Burrow on four counts of fraud.

    Burrow is accused of lying about donations in an effort to secure millions of dollars in loans and state grants.

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