Westport Pools LLC Sued Webster Groves Over $636,000 in Alleged Unpaid Work on New Aquatic Center In St. Louis County Circuit Court

Westport Pools LLC, operating as Landmark Aquatic, sued the City of Webster Groves in St. Louis County Circuit Court on April 28, 2026, claiming the city owes more than $636,000 in unpaid work on a new aquatic center that opened in 2025. The city denies it owes anything beyond what it has already paid. This is a contract breach dispute — there is no class action and no consumer claims process.

Quick Facts: Landmark Aquatic v. City of Webster Groves

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	April 28, 2026
Plaintiff	Westport Pools LLC d/b/a Landmark Aquatic
Defendant	City of Webster Groves, Missouri
Amount Claimed	$636,000+ plus interest at 1.5% per month and attorney fees
Alleged Violation	Breach of contract; violation of Missouri public works payment law
Court	St. Louis County Circuit Court
Project Involved	Webster Groves Recreation Complex Aquatic Center
Total Project Cost	Approximately $12 million
Amount City Says It Has Paid	More than $11.5 million
Case Status	Early litigation — city served with lawsuit this week
Last Updated	May 17, 2026

What the Westport Pools Lawsuit Against Webster Groves Is About

Landmark Aquatic alleges the city caused repeated delays from the very start of the project, including postponing initial design meetings and then requesting significant revisions to the aquatic center’s bathhouse, waterslides, seating areas, and shade structures. The company says those design changes pushed the schedule back by weeks and forced its subcontractors to perform work that went beyond the original contract scope.

The lawsuit also claims Webster Groves ordered numerous additions and modifications during construction but later refused to approve or pay for those change orders, with the disputed work adding up to more than $283,000. The disputed items range from electrical fixes and restroom changes to concrete, ventilation, railing, and site repairs — all things Landmark Aquatic says it completed and expected to be paid for. This type of dispute — a contractor pursuing compensation for damages after a public entity refuses to pay for approved work — is governed in Missouri by public works payment law, which gives contractors specific legal rights when a government body withholds payment. If you have questions about how contractor payment disputes work in Missouri, a consumer rights lawyer or construction law attorney can walk you through your options at no upfront cost.

The Overtime and Retainage Disputes at the Center of the Case

Two additional money disputes pushed the total claim past $636,000.

Landmark Aquatic says severe weather during the winter of 2024 and early 2025 created further delays, and that the city then asked it to work overtime to ensure the pool would open near Memorial Day 2025. The company says the city later refused to pay $130,000 in overtime costs, despite initially agreeing to cover them.

Beyond the change order and overtime disputes, the lawsuit argues that Webster Groves withheld more than $220,000 in final contract payments and retainage. Retainage is money held back by a project owner until the work is fully complete — a standard construction practice meant to ensure the contractor finishes. Landmark Aquatic contends that withholding retainage after the work was done violates Missouri law.

The company is seeking $636,000 in damages, interest of 1.5% per month, and money to cover attorney fees and court costs under Missouri public works payment law.

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Webster Groves Responds: “We Have Fulfilled All Obligations”

The city pushed back in a statement released to FOX 2, and its position is direct. Webster Groves confirmed officials were served with the lawsuit this week and said they are reviewing it with legal counsel, though the city does not comment on active or pending legal matters.

The city stated that Westport Pools completed its final life safety installation around April 15, after which Webster Groves released the final retainage payment it had held to ensure project completion under the signed agreement. The city says more than $11.5 million has been paid toward the contract and approved change orders, and that it “has fulfilled all obligations in good faith and will continue to do so.”

In short, the city’s position is that it paid what it agreed to pay, and anything Landmark Aquatic claims beyond that was not properly approved.

Landmark Aquatic v. Webster Groves: Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Webster Groves Recreation Complex Aquatic Center Opens	Memorial Day 2025
Landmark Aquatic Completes Life Safety Installation	~April 15, 2026
City Releases Final Retainage Payment	~April 15, 2026
Lawsuit Filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court	April 28, 2026
City Served with Lawsuit	Week of May 12, 2026
City Begins Legal Review	Week of May 12, 2026
Next Court Date	TBD — not yet scheduled as of May 17, 2026
Expected Resolution Timeline	TBD — contract disputes of this type typically resolve within 1–2 years

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Webster Groves?

 No. This is a single-plaintiff contract dispute filed by a private pool construction company against the city. It does not involve a class of consumers, and there is no settlement process open to the public. Webster Groves taxpayers are not directly parties to this lawsuit, though the outcome may affect how the city handles public works payments going forward.

What is Missouri public works payment law?

 Missouri law gives contractors specific rights when a government entity withholds payment on a public construction project. It allows contractors to recover unpaid amounts, interest, and attorney fees when they can prove the public body breached its payment obligations. Landmark Aquatic is invoking this law to recover the disputed $636,000. If you are a contractor dealing with an unpaid government contract in Missouri, speaking with a construction law attorney is your best first step.

Does this affect the Webster Groves aquatic center being open? 

No. The aquatic center opened in 2025 and construction is complete. The lawsuit is a financial dispute about payment for work already finished — it does not affect the facility’s operation.

What happens to taxpayer money if Webster Groves loses?

 If the court sides with Landmark Aquatic, the city would owe the contractor $636,000 plus interest and legal fees — money that would come from city funds. That makes this case relevant to Webster Groves residents even though they are not direct parties. Local government contract disputes like this one are exactly why public works payment laws exist in the first place.

Can I do anything if I think my contractor or city government hasn’t paid what they owe?

 If you are a contractor in a similar situation — completed public work, withheld payment — you may have rights under Missouri’s public works laws. Most construction law attorneys offer a free legal consultation with no upfront cost, and many work on contingency for disputes of this type.

Sources & References

• FOX 2 St. Louis (Alex Barton, May 16, 2026): https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/pool-company-sues-webster-groves-for-600k-in-unpaid-work/
• St. Louis County Circuit Court — Westport Pools LLC d/b/a Landmark Aquatic v. City of Webster Groves, filed April 28, 2026 (case number TBD — confirm via Missouri Case.net at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/)

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the original FOX 2 news report and publicly available court filing information on May 17, 2026. Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.