Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals: ASBCA Stays Appeals to Avoid Confusion With Courts, Allow for Full Resolution

Government Contracts Group counsel Stephen McBrady discusses how over the past few years prosecutors have attempted to halt contractors' appeals before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) because of alleged similarity to litigation taking place in district court. McBrady says, "when the government seeks to suspend contract claims pending the outcome of criminal or civil cases, the board, following Supreme Court's decision in Landis v. North American Co., 299 U.S. 248, 57 S. Ct. 163, 81 L. Ed. 153 (1936), requires the government to 'make out a clear case of hardship or inequity in being required to go forward'" if the stay may cause harm.