Oregon Adds Another Bridge to Racketeering Lawsuit

Another bridge has been added to the racketeering lawsuit the state attorney general's office filed against the Ross Brothers construction company.

Three months ago, the state charged Ross Brothers with trying to defraud the Oregon Department of Transportation out of more than $1 million on a project in Ontario.

The lawsuit filed in Malheur County Circuit Court now includes $381,000 or more in alleged overcharges on the Depot Street Bridge in Rogue River.

Among other things, the new allegations include claims that Ross inflated costs to keep equipment on standby during a construction delay, pumped up costs for concrete forms and other materials and submitted volumes of false documents.

Attorneys for the construction company, based in Brooks near Salem, have denied all the allegations and are seeking dismissal.