A Jacksonville Beach company filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court alleging that Jinko (U.S.) Industries Inc. failed to pay for work performed at the solar panel manufacturer’s facility in AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center.
Jax Refrigeration Inc. filed the complaint Sept. 20 against JinkoSolar and Richardson Logistics Assets LLC, owner of the factory building at 4660 POW-MIA Parkway.
“JinkoSolar is a proud investor in the Jacksonville community. Jinko hired a construction company, MGI, to perform design and construction services at Jinko’s new state of the art facility. While Jinko has complied with its obligations to MGI, it appears that MGI has not made payments allegedly owed by MGI to its subcontractor, Jax Refrigeration. Jinko takes these matters very seriously and is working earnestly with the parties to encourage an amicable resolution,” said JinkoSolar spokesman Jeff Juger in an email.
A subcontractor on the buildout for the manufacturing facility, Jax Refrigeration says it sold and delivered mechanical equipment, building materials and labor in late 2018 and that JinkoSolar owes $564,480.24 for the equipment and work performed.
According to court documents, Jax Refrigeration recorded a claim of lien for the balance due on Sept. 10 and seeks to foreclose on the lien.
JinkoSolar agreed to open the $50 million plant and employ 100 people with the support of city and state incentives. The jobs, which will pay an average annual wage of $45,562, must be created by Dec. 31.
The company leases 285,652 square feet in the 407,435-square-foot building at 4660 POW-MIA Memorial Parkway.
City Council adopted a resolution in March 2018 to approve the incentives. Financial support comprises city tax incentives of $3.4 million, including a $3.2 million Recapture Enhanced Value grant to be paid over 10 years and a $200,000 Qualified Target Industry tax refund for JinkoSolar to be repaid over five years.
The state will pay the remaining $800,000 of the total $1 million QTI refund.
Jax Refrigeration is represented by M. Scott Thomas of the Burr & Forman law firm in Jacksonville. The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Katie Dearing.